Google plans to build a large artificial intelligence data center on Australia's remote Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean after signing a cloud services agreement with the Department of Defense earlier this year, according to documents reviewed by the ag. Reuters and interviews with officials.
Plans for the data center on the small island, located 350 km south of Indonesia, have not been reported before, and many details, including its estimated size, cost and potential use, remain secret.
But military experts say such a facility would be a valuable asset on the island, which is increasingly seen by defense officials as a critical frontline for monitoring Chinese submarines and other naval activity in the Indian Ocean.
Google is in advanced talks to lease land near the island's airport to build the data center, including a deal with a local mining company to provide its power needs, officials in the Christmas District said.
Google, owned by Alphabet Inc., declined to comment on the matter.
Australia's defense department also declined to comment. comment.
A recent board game involving the Australian, US and Japanese militaries highlighted Christmas Island's role as a frontline defence for Australia in any regional conflict, particularly its advantages for launching unmanned weapons systems.
Brian Clark, a former US Navy strategist who has led the war games, said having a forward hub for “command and control” on Christmas Island would be crucial in a crisis with China or another adversary.
“The data center is partly to allow you to do the kinds of AI-based command and control that you're going to need in the future, especially if you rely on unmanned systems for surveillance missions, guidance missions and even engagements, said Clark, a fellow at the Hudson Institute.
Underwater cables provide greater bandwidth for satellite communications and greater reliability because China is expected to jam satellite communications or Starlink in a crisis, he said.
In July, the Australian Department of Defense signed a three-year cloud services agreement with Google. The British military recently announced a similar cloud services agreement with Google, which it says will enhance intelligence sharing with the United States.
Last month, Google applied for Australian environmental approvals to build the first undersea cable connecting Christmas Island to the northern Australian city of Darwin, where the US Marine Corps is based six months of the year.
The cable link to Darwin for Google will be installed by US company SubCom, documents show. SubCom, the exclusive contractor for submarine cables for the US military, previously connected the US-British military base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean with a cable stretching from Australia to Oman.
Christmas Island County President Steve Pereira said his administration was studying the impact on the community of the proposed data center before giving final approval for construction.
The 135-square-kilometer island had until recently been notorious for poor telecommunications, and its 1,600 residents had no job opportunities. “There is support for this because this data center really contributes to the community with infrastructure, employment and adds economic value to the island,“ he said.
The data center is of commercial interest to Google because of its location in the Indian Ocean between Africa, Asia and Australia, as well as its potential defense applications.
Another recent military exercise on Christmas Island involved the rapid deployment of an advanced U.S. truck-mounted HIMARS missile system from Darwin, which drew a mixed reaction from residents. Some anti-war protesters feared the impact on tourism, while business people hoped the increased defense activity would boost the economy, Pereira said.