Sci-TechGS-III· 1 min read
Vizag Data Centre: India's Eastern Gateway for Digital Connectivity
Why in news?
Google and Andhra Pradesh have launched an AI Hub and data centre in Visakhapatnam, marking a significant step in India's digital infrastructure development.
Key points
- The facility is part of a larger digital infrastructure push in Visakhapatnam, expected to attract investments up to ₹1.25 lakh crore.
- It is integrated into the America-India Connect initiative, which will land multiple international subsea cables in Visakhapatnam.
- This will create India's second major gateway on the eastern seaboard, reducing dependence on the Red Sea route for data transfer to Europe.
- The project is expected to strengthen downstream demand for high-end computing hardware and augment India's semiconductor capacity efforts.
- It will improve direct data connectivity from India's east coast to South Africa and the U.S.
Background & context
India has traditionally focused on IT services and coding. The development of data centres and infrastructure signifies a shift towards owning and controlling digital assets and connectivity.
★ Prelims fact capsule
Visakhapatnam will become India's second major digital gateway on the eastern seaboard.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper III: Science and Technology, Economy (Infrastructure development, Investment)