Google is said to be constructing a covert artificial intelligence (AI) facility in the Indian Ocean. Reports suggest that the tech giant is developing this center on Christmas Island, a remote location in Australia. This move is believed to be tied to a cloud computing contract with the Australian military, highlighting the island’s strategic importance for monitoring maritime activities.
Despite public denials from Google, internal documents reportedly confirm the ongoing construction of the data site. In July, Australia’s Department of Defence inked a three-year cloud services deal with Google.
Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean known for its red crab migration, has become significant not only for its unique wildlife but also for its strategic position in communications. Experts suggest that having a data center on Christmas Island could be crucial during political crises, enabling AI-powered command and control operations, particularly for unmanned surveillance and targeting missions.
Google has sought a long-term energy supply agreement for a 7-megawatt data center on Christmas Island, utilizing both diesel and renewable energy sources. The company has also applied for environmental permits to connect the island to Darwin, Australia, through a subsea cable. Darwin, where the US Marines have rotating deployments, adds to the strategic importance of Christmas Island.
Google’s central project involves the Bosun subsea cable system, connecting Darwin, Christmas Island, and eventually extending to Singapore. This initiative aims to enhance digital infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific region by laying new subsea cables, thereby strengthening internet connectivity and cloud services in the area.
Collaborating with partners like Vocus, Google plans to install terrestrial fiber connections linking Darwin to the Sunshine Coast, integrating the Bosun cable with the Tabua subsea network, which connects the US, Australia, and Fiji. This setup aims to provide additional redundancy and resilience for regional communications.
The Australia Connect program, introduced by Google in November 2024, focuses on expanding digital infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region through new subsea cables. This initiative is expected to bolster connectivity between Australia and its neighboring countries, meeting the increasing demand for reliable internet and cloud services in the region.