Google Announces $15B America-India Connect AI Plan
New Delhi: February 19, 2026: Tech giant Google has announced a massive $15 billion investment plan under a new initiative titled “America-India Connect”, aimed at strengthening artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and expanding digital connectivity between India and key regions across four continents.
The announcement was made during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where Google outlined its long-term roadmap to make AI infrastructure more accessible, resilient and globally interconnected.
Major Subsea Cable Expansion Planned
As part of the five-year plan, Google will establish a new international subsea cable gateway in Visakhapatnam, positioning India’s east coast as a major digital landing hub. This development will complement existing landing stations in Mumbai and Chennai and is expected to significantly diversify India’s data infrastructure.
The project includes:
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Three new subsea cable routes connecting India to Singapore, South Africa and Australia
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Multiple fiber-optic corridors strengthening links between India and the United States
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Enhanced network redundancy to improve reliability and reduce disruption risks
On the west coast, a new direct fiber route between Mumbai and Western Australia is also being developed to boost trans-Pacific connectivity.
Industry observers say these routes will increase bandwidth capacity, reduce latency and support growing AI workloads, cloud computing demands and cross-border digital services.
Addressing the Risk of an ‘AI Divide’
Google said the initiative is designed to prevent a widening “AI divide,” where countries without strong infrastructure fall behind in the next wave of technological transformation.
Subsea cables carry the vast majority of global internet traffic. By expanding and diversifying these routes, the company aims to improve internet affordability, strengthen resilience and accelerate economic growth in connected regions.
For India — one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies — the move could enhance its position as a global AI and cloud computing hub.
Focus on Skilling and Public Sector Modernisation
Beyond infrastructure, Google is also investing in AI-driven skill development initiatives. Through Google Cloud, the company is collaborating with the Government of India’s Karmayogi Bharat mission to strengthen digital capabilities for public servants.
As the primary cloud partner for the iGOT Karmayogi platform, Google Cloud provides secure infrastructure supporting over 20 million government officials across more than 800 districts. The integration of AI tools is expected to enhance learning accessibility, improve discoverability of training materials and enable content delivery in multiple Indian languages.
Strategic Significance
The America-India Connect initiative comes amid rising global competition in AI infrastructure investments. With this move, Google is deepening its long-term commitment to India’s digital ecosystem while strengthening data routes linking North America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Experts believe improved connectivity could attract more data centres, boost AI research capabilities and support innovation across sectors including healthcare, education, finance and manufacturing.
The Road Ahead
Google said the initiative will roll out in phases over the next five years in partnership with regional stakeholders. Further technical and commercial details are expected as project milestones are achieved.
With AI rapidly reshaping global economies, the company’s latest investment signals that infrastructure — not just algorithms — will play a defining role in determining who leads the next phase of digital transformation.