By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-24 03:12:42
Google has announced the beginning of construction on a new data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. The centre, to be situated on a 33-acre plot of land acquired by Google in October 2020, will ensure reliable digital services for both Google Cloud customers and regular Google users in the UK.
This significant project represents a $1 billion investment in the country. Google’s data centres play a crucial role in powering various popular digital services globally, including Google Cloud, Workspace (comprising Gmail, Docs, and Sheets), Search, and Maps.
Chief Financial Officer of Alphabet and Google, Ruth Porat, emphasized the importance of Google’s data centres, stating, “People and organizations around the world rely on Google’s data centres daily for the digital services they use.” She further elaborated on the significance of the Waltham Cross data centre as the latest addition to Google’s investments in the UK and the broader digital economy. This new development also complements Google’s existing office developments in Saint Giles and Kings Cross, a research collaboration agreement with the University of Cambridge, and the Grace Hopper subsea cable connecting the UK with the United States and Spain.
The construction of the data centre is expected to meet the growing demand for Google’s AI and cloud services while generating employment opportunities in the construction and technical sectors for the local community. The UK government has been collaborating with Google to make AI more accessible and beneficial to individuals and organizations across the country.
The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, lauded Google’s investment as a testament to the UK’s standing as a technology hub with significant growth potential. Foreign investments such as this are crucial in generating employment opportunities and driving economic growth across different regions of the UK.
In summary, Google’s new data centre in Waltham Cross signifies a substantial investment in the UK’s digital infrastructure, supporting the country’s position as a leading player in the global technology landscape and driving growth in the years to come.
Read the original article on The Guardian
