<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/07/google-ai-data-centre-christmas-island-department-defence-deal>
"Google plans to build a large AI datacentre on Australia’s remote Indian Ocean
outpost of Christmas Island after signing a cloud deal with the Department of
Defence earlier this year, according to documents reviewed by
Reuters and
interviews with officials.
Plans for the datacentre on the tiny island located 350km south of Indonesia
have not previously been reported, and many details, including its projected
size, cost and potential uses, remain secret.
However, military experts say such a facility would be a valuable asset on the
island, which is increasingly seen by defence officials as a critical frontline
in monitoring Chinese submarine and other naval activity in the Indian Ocean.
Google is in advanced talks to lease land near the island’s airport to
construct the data hub, including a deal with a local mining company to secure
its energy needs, Christmas Island Shire officials told
Reuters and council
meeting records show.
Alphabet Inc-owned Google said the project was part of its work to deliver
subsea cable infrastructure to boost digital resilience in Australia and the
Indo-Pacific, and played down its size.
“We are not constructing ‘a large artificial intelligence datacentre’ on
Christmas Island,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement to
Reuters,
adding more details would be shared soon.
Planning documents show Google proposes an “additional future cable system”
connecting Christmas Island to Asia.
A Christmas Island source, who declined to be named, said Google had requested
a long-term energy supply deal for a 7-megawatt datacentre, using diesel and
renewable power. Google did not comment about its power requirements.
Australia’s Department of Infrastructure confirmed Google’s proposal was to
establish a datacentre on Christmas Island and included plans to connect the
island to Darwin via a subsea cable.
“The department is in discussions with Google to ensure energy requirements for
the proposed project are met without impacting supply to local residents and
businesses,” it said in a statement to
Reuters.
Australia’s Department of Defence had no comment."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
