Latest news with #Visakhapatnam
Zawya
16 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Google to invest $6bln in southern India data centre, sources say
SINGAPORE: Google will invest $6 billion to develop a 1-gigawatt data centre and its power infrastructure in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in the Alphabet unit's first such investment in India, government sources said on Wednesday. Due to be built in the port city of Visakhapatnam, the data centre investment includes $2 billion in renewable energy capacity that will be used to power the facility, two Andhra Pradesh government sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The search giant's data centre will be the largest in capacity and investment size in Asia and is part a multi-billion-dollar expansion of its data centre portfolio across the region in countries including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. In April, Alphabet said it was still committed to spending some $75 billion this year to build data centre capacity despite the economic uncertainty resulting from U.S. President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive. Alphabet did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Andhra Pradesh's information technology minister Nara Lokesh, who is in Singapore to discuss investments with thegovernment and business leaders there, did not comment on the Google investment. "We've made certain announcements like Sify, which are public," he said, referring to a 550-MW data centre Sify Technologies plans to build in the state. "There are certain announcements which are not yet public. In October, we will make those announcements." STATE'S POST-SPLIT INVESTMENT DRIVE Andhra Pradesh, a state run by a leading ally of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was split into two in 2014, losing its former capital Hyderabad and a major revenue source to the newly created Telangana state. Andhra Pradesh has since been looking to attract investments to ease the financial strains of high debt and social spending. Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh has already been able to finalise investments in data centres with total capacity of 1.6 GW, adding that it aims to build 6 GW of data centres over the next five years from nearly zero currently. He expects the initial 1.6 GW of already agreed data centres to be operational in the next 24 months. That would be more than the 1.4 GW currently in operation in the entire country, according to real estate consultancy Anarock. "We're also working on getting three cable landing stations in Visakhapatnam. We want to create enough of cable network, which will be two times what Mumbai has today," Lokesh said. Cable landing stations - typically located close to data centres requiring fast and reliable connections to global networks - are used to store equipment which receives and relays data from undersea cables. Lokesh also said the state was looking to build up energy infrastructure to meet sustainability requirements of data centres. He said he anticipated power generation capacity requirements of as much as 10 GW from the electricity-intensive industry over the next five years. "Majority will end up being actually green energy, and that's the unique value proposition that we bring to the table," he said. Some of the additional capacity will be coal-fired, however, as data centres require reliable, high volume power throughout the day, he added. (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Joe Bavier)
Globe and Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Green Power Meets Cloud Scale: How Google (GOOGL) Shapes India's Digital Infrastructure
Google (GOOGL) will invest $6 billion to build a 1‑gigawatt data centre and power infrastructure in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, marking Alphabet's first major data‑centre investment in India and the largest by capacity and capital in Asia. The port‑city facility is designed to support hyperscale cloud services and AI workloads with ultra‑low latency, positioning Google to tap into India's rapidly growing digital economy. The project includes a $2 billion commitment to renewable energy capacity dedicated to the new centre, part of Alphabet's broader $75 billion spend on data‑centre expansion this year across Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. By pairing green power with cutting‑edge infrastructure, Google aims to meet sustainability targets while ensuring reliable operations in a region prone to supply‑chain and regulatory shifts. Market Overview: Hyperscalers accelerate Asia‑Pacific data centre builds for AI and cloud growth Renewable energy tie‑ins become standard to address ESG mandates India emerges as a strategic hub amid diversifying global network footprints Key Points: 1 GW facility backed by $6 billion capex in Visakhapatnam, AP's first major hyperscale site $2 billion allocated for solar and wind generation to power the centre Alphabet maintains $75 billion data‑centre rollout plan despite geopolitical uncertainty Looking Ahead: Execution speed and PPA agreements will set benchmarks for future investments AP's regulatory incentives and grid upgrades critical to sustaining growth Competition from AWS and Microsoft to intensify as India's market matures Bull Case: Google's landmark $6 billion investment in Visakhapatnam will create the largest data-centre facility by capacity and capex in Asia, firmly positioning Alphabet to capture India's explosive cloud and AI workload demand as local enterprises scale digital transformation initiatives. By pairing the 1 GW site with a $2 billion commitment to solar and wind, Google is at the vanguard of ESG-driven infrastructure—offering customers, regulators, and partners a clear sustainability narrative that aligns with growing global and Indian environmental mandates. The strategic choice of Andhra Pradesh gives Google first-mover advantage in a state with strong government incentives, massive grid expansion plans, and a push to become an Asia-Pacific digital super-node. Early anchor status could yield favorable tax, permitting, and network interconnection benefits versus later competitors. Google's commitment to execution (ultra‑high capacity, local renewable PPAs, modern cable-landing stations) sets a best-in-class benchmark, likely attracting subsequent hyperscale deals and nurturing a robust cloud and AI ecosystem in southern India. The facility's scale supports ultra‑low latency for next‑gen services—foundational for both local unicorns and multinational clients—while resilience from renewable-plus-coal backstops ensures mission‑critical reliability amid India's complex power grid dynamics. Alphabet's ability to sustain programmatic growth globally (with $75 billion in data-centre capex committed this year) demonstrates financial power and operational confidence, signaling to investors and customers that it can meet surging AI and cloud requirements at global scale. Bear Case: The scale and ambition of the $6 billion Visakhapatnam investment increase execution risks—permitting, construction, and grid interconnection delays could strain returns, especially if local regulatory processes stall or infrastructure upgrades lag hyperscaler demand. India's immature power market may undermine Google's renewable energy strategy: while $2 billion is earmarked for green power, grid instability or overreliance on coal backstops could threaten ESG goals, introduce reputational risk, or inflate operational costs during spiking energy markets. Competition is set to escalate: AWS and Microsoft are also accelerating data centre buildouts in India—if client ramp is slower than expected, Alphabet could face pricing pressure and underutilization, challenging its ROI and first-mover edge in a nascent regional market. Global geopolitical risks remain nontrivial: Alphabet's $75 billion data-centre rollout faces possible headwinds from shifting trade policy, supply chain bottlenecks, or local content regulation, each of which could hike project costs or limit Google's flexibility over the facility's lifecycle. Reliance on Andhra Pradesh's fiscal and regulatory incentives could backfire if political winds shift or competing states introduce counter-offers—future cost structures may prove less attractive as the 'data centre gold rush' intensifies across India. Heavy capital outlay tied up in a single site increases financial and operational risk; failure to hit timelines or win major offtake deals may leave Google with excess capacity as the pace of AI and cloud demand, while robust, remains inherently difficult to forecast. Andhra Pradesh, carved out from Telangana in 2014, targets 6 GW of total data‑centre capacity within five years, up from virtually zero today. Officials expect the initial 1.6 GW of lined‑up projects to go live over the next two years, supported by plans for three new cable‑landing stations to double regional connectivity. While green energy will supply the bulk of demand, reliable coal‑fired backstops will ensure uninterrupted power. Google's Visakhapatnam bet underscores India's ascent as a global cloud and AI hub and highlights Andhra Pradesh's push to alleviate fiscal strains through infrastructure investment. Investors and hyperscalers will watch permit timelines, grid reliability and off‑take agreements as gauges of the state's data‑centre climate and as a template for future pan‑India deployments.
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- General
- Times of Oman
India commissions INS Nistar to strengthen maritime safety infrastructure
Visakhapatnam: Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), the ship represents the Navy's technological prowess and commitment to self-reliance. With its primary role in deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations, INS Nistar is a strategic enabler, a life-saving sentinel, and a symbol of India's advancing maritime capability. The commissioning ceremony, held at the Eastern Naval Command base, was attended by senior naval leadership, defence officials, engineers, and shipyard workers whose efforts brought this vision to life.'Nistar', the first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel, was delivered by Hindustan Shipyard Limited to the Indian Navy on July 8, 2025, at Visakhapatnam. The warship has been designed and built as per the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). According to an official statement, the ship is a testament to the Government of India's resolute focus on nation-building through self-reliance in defence production and unwavering focus on Aatmanirbharta. A total of 120 MSMEs have participated in the construction of this ambitious, unique and state-of-the-art vessel, achieving more than 80 per cent indigenous content. The ship is highly specialised and can undertake Deep-Sea Diving and Rescue Operations, a capability held by select Navies across the globe. The ship's name, 'Nistar', originates from Sanskrit and means liberation, rescue or salvation. The ship, measuring 118 m in length with a tonnage of nearly 10,000 tons, is equipped with state-of-the-art Diving Equipment and has the capability to undertake Deep saturation diving up to a depth of 300 m. The ship also features a Side Diving Stage for conducting diving operations up to a depth of 75 m. The ship will also serve as the 'Mother Ship' for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), to rescue and evacuate personnel, in case of an emergency in a submarine underwater. The ship is equipped with a combination of Remotely Operated Vehicles to undertake Diver Monitoring and Salvage Operations up to a depth of 1000 m. In her earlier avatar, ex-Nistar was a submarine rescue vessel acquired by the Indian Navy from the former USSR in 1969 and commissioned in 1971. Over the course of her two decades of service, she made significant contributions to the Indian Navy's diving and submarine rescue operations. With the commissioning of this ship, the legacy of ex-Nistar continues onwards, with her motto 'Surakshita Yatharthta Shauryam' translating to 'Deliverance with Precision and Bravery', aptly reflecting the main roles of the ship.
Hans India
20-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 20th July 2025
Stray dogs also need shelters Itis apt that a petitioner has urged the Supreme Court for earmarking designated spaces to feed stray dogs while the apex court sought to know why he cannot feed them at home. Within the ambit of the petitioner, it is understandable that he has compassion for the uncared and starving stray dogs, and he may feed them on his own but to provide shelter to countless stray dogs is literally impossible for any individual. It is to be noted that many volunteers and compassionate people do feed them regularly or on special occasions. If our governments at the State or Centre make a provision for establishing shelters for dogs that are not owned like in some foreign countries, these people will be able to feed them. Even otherwise, the government should make safe designated places for stray dogs and kitten in shelter homes and vaccinate them, treat the unwell besides providing food and keep them open so that people can bring food on occasions. It can allow people to come forward and adopt pups by duly following statutory norms. Meanwhile it is absurd and inhuman if the strays are culled for whatever reason. Dr T Ramadas,Visakhapatnam Play boosts physical and mental health Theadage 'All work and no play make Jack a dull boy' holds eternal significance. Play or playing is one of the simple, yet rewarding activities, one can indulge in. It picks curiosity and allows you to explore the world in an engaging way. Besides being fun, play opens a sense of enjoyment that is essential for development and overall well-being. Play can also build problem-solving skills to help navigate the challenges we face in life. It is time to unleash your inner child, spark your creativity, and learn why play is an important part of living a happy life. Play is not just for kids but a biological need in our DNA that develops the brain. We become smarter, stronger, and happier each time we play. Play boosts imagination, reduces stress, improves skills, bolsters teamwork and self-esteem, and hone several other skills. The National Play Day was created on July 19 in 2024, while the International Play Day is observed every June 11 to encourage everyone to unleash their inner child, spark creativity, and learn why play is an important part of living a happy life. This day is intended to spread happiness. Whether you are a child or adult, playing is enjoyable and relaxing. Dr Burra Madhusudhan Reddy,Karimnagar. Schools getting bomb threats: More to it than meets the eye Thecountry's three most happening cities are being mindlessly targeted by anti-India forces, each of which has a specific identity. The timing of hoax bomb calls or emails obviously indicates a sinister design to disturb the nation, especially when Assembly elections are round the corner in some States. More so when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had started an election campaign in one of the poll-bound States on Friday. While bomb detection and disposal squads found nothing incriminating at any of the hundreds of targeted educational institutions, both public and private, it is pertinent to note that the entire exercise was aimed at creating panic among school managements, students, parents and the administration concerned. That is a scare, which might pose more 'trouble' than a real bomb threat. Though advanced technology, particularly AI, was used, the investigators suspect the use of offshore platforms for the purpose of sending the hoax bomb threats. The tone and tenor of the message indicate that it is the handiwork of Jehadi groups, targeting the 'non-believers'. This is where the international community should come in and evolve a certain 'discipline' to regulate the usage of AI, which has already threatened to cause catastrophic damage all over the world. The very fact that the platforms used to send the threats could not be traced is an indication that more sinister activities are in the pipeline. Govardhana Myneedu,Vijayawada Inhuman to blame dead pilots for the AI171 crash Thishas reference to the delay in investigation and blaming the pilots of the ill-fated Dreamliner aircraft even after their death. It is quite sad that after the release of preliminary report into the AI171 crash at Ahmedabad, the topic has shifted to the cockpit fuel switches. The fact is that experienced and well trained pilots become a source of perfect judgemental knowledge. They use mandatory procedures to prevent errors, including pre-flight, in-flight and post flight procedures. Wasting time about fuel switches and keeping people in a state of confusion with its findings is no good. I sincerely hope that the aviation authorities will invite seasoned pilots from across airlines and try to understand from them about the procedures they follow while flying. Rather than blaming pilots, who have also perished in the crash, the investigators must zero in on the actual cause that led to the accident and put things in the right perspective. The authorities should understand the mental agony of the distraught kin of the 260 crash victims and ensure that they don't rub further salt by floating some bizarre theories. G Murali Mohan Rao Secunderabad-11 Tesla's Indian foray also brings along challenges TodayIndia, the most populated country, is the biggest market in the world. According to a report, the increase in the number of rich people in India may be a matter of pride from the viewpoint of marketism but the reality is that half of the country's population is still dependent on the government! Indeed, Elon Musk is the world's richest man and the products of his branded companies are sold across international markets. Musk wanted to launch the electric car from the stables of Tesla in the Indian market for a long time but due to the high tariff rules and the high prices of his car, his idea was getting postponed. However, Musk's participation in the second term of US President Donald Trump and relaxation of rules by the Indian government, Musk's dream of selling the much-awaited Tesla cars in India has come true. Of course, there is no dearth of people who love foreign cars in the Indian market, though the predominant section is the middle class. Tesla cars are equipped with the latest technology, but the Indian government will not allow Tesla to use all its features on Indian roads because the traffic rules here are not as strong as in foreign countries. Tata, and Mahindra's Indian cars and some foreign makes are also equipped with latest facilities and are present in the Indian market for a long time at half the price, while Tesla's lowest priced car is Rs 60 lakh. I feel that if Musk wants to become an automobile king, then keeping the middle Indian market in mind, he should contemplate launching a normal Indian budget car like Nano. Undoubtedly, the arrival of Tesla cars will bolster the Indian market and the government revenue. With Tesla coming to India, other domestic and foreign car manufacturing companies will provide better facilities to maintain their hold on their customers! Arvind Rawal,Jhabua (MP) Hindi is a unifier, not a national threat Thewrite-up by K Krishna Sagar Rao was candid after the language war in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala reignited an unwanted but a predictable and politically motivated debate even after the Centre made it clear that learning Hindi is only an optional subject. When NEP itself supports the three-language formula that is aimed at empowering students with national and global communication tools, one fails to understand the uncalled-for resistance from certain political parties. Ironically, in Mumbai, the powerful promoter of Hindi not just in India but globally through Bollywood, the breakaway Shiv Sena and MNS are creating havoc by beating the aam aadmi for speaking Hindi. This goes to reveal linguistic jingoism that hurts the state's long-term interests. Apparently, opposing Hindi on flimsy political grounds undermines national integration. Political parties must understand that as Hindi is a widely understood medium, it can unite and never be a threat. It is high time; the political class keeps politics out of the language space because Hindi is practical and only a means of connection that illuminates the cultural lamp that unites us as a nation. K R Srinivasan,Secunderabad-3 Shameless war over language Thethrashing of non-Marathi-speaking people in Mumbai by Raj Thackeray's goons in some areas of Mumbai a fewweeks back is a matter of serious concern and a shame to the country's image and the state. Hindi is the official language of India, spoken by nearly 90 per cent of the people. Even those working for a living in other states are also being forced to speak the language of the state, despite Hindi being widely spoken and understood by most of the people. This divisive politics is ruining the lives of poor migrants, who are trying to make an honest living in a city far away from their home. For Raj Thackeray's goons, it does not matter if fathers no longer educate their children or send money for the medical care of the old. If we are to go by Thackeray's argument that non-Marathi people are redundant in Maharashtra, perhaps the party should begin from the top. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) should first banish non-Marathi-speaking film stars, sportspersons, politicians, and entrepreneurs, who live in Mumbai and boost the state's economy. However, the party is unlikely to do this since political leaders stand to gain from the rich and famous. If the non-Marathi entrepreneurs are driven out of Mumbai, some other city will replace it as the financial capital of India. Thackeray should remember that Mumbai did not automatically become the proverbial city of dreams -- it became so because of the contribution of those who migrated to the city. Earlier too, Bihari workers were beaten up in Mumbai by MNS goons, forcing them to leave their place of work. Is this the India of our dreams? These political parties are upending the integrity and the democratic character of the country. How would the Marathi-speaking people feel if they were meted out the same treatment while earning a living in some other state? The wrongdoers must be prosecuted so that no one dares to indulge in such anti-national activities again. Jubel D'Cruz,Mumbai Centre should shun its divisive language push Thisrefers to the article, 'Hindi & politics of regionalism (July 18). The Union government's attempts to impose Hindi as the national language is visible and understood by one and all. It is also a fact that it is one of the ideological goals of the RSS to bring Sanskrit as the administrative language and till such a time Hindi should take the place of national official language as recommended by its founders. The way the union Home minister humiliated those speaking English and the way the Tamil Nadu government is deprived of its due funds for not accepting the tri-language policy further confirms the game plan. But it should be understood that nothing is lost by not learning Hindi, but much is gained by learning English as seen in the youth taking up jobs in many countries with their ability to communicate in English, while youngsters, who only know their mother tongue are rushing to southern states and ending as migrant labourers. By not knowing the southern languages they are neither deprived of their jobs nor do they find it difficult to manage their living down South. Therefore, the Union government should give up its coercive efforts over states to accept its language policy, which, in all certainty, will end up with Hindi being taught as the third language. The general apprehension of the local tongue getting extinct with the entry of Hindi also has relevance. If Sanskrit should be accepted for its ancient roots, then the argument on why not Tamil be treated as the official language as it is more ancient and spoken by crores in many parts of the world? Hindi is just 200 years old, while Tamil has been flourishing for thousands of years. Promoting a language is welcome but imposing directly or indirectly is divisive, which needs to be discouraged. A G Rajmohan,Anantapur-515004 Hindi as the bone of contention Apropos'Hindi and politics of regionalism', either by accident or design, the writer conveniently forgets the attempt by the Hindi heartland to project itself as the keeper of Indian nationalism and culture. Not just language, there are other areas in which they believe their numbers make them the true representatives of Indian cultural heritage. While it may be true that other parties are raising the language issue for their own political gains, all parties, including the BJP, raise issues which they think will fetch them votes. Speaking Hindi in Kerala may not make the speaker a lesser person, but speaking one of the southern languages in the Hindi heartland gets a notorious label or the other. And the less said about the acceptability of the people of Northeastern states to those in the Hindi heartland the better! Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
Times of Oman
18-07-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
"Proud moment:" MoS Sanjay Seth as India's first indigenous diving support vessel 'Nistar' commissioned into Indian Navy
Visakhapatnam: The Indian Navy on Friday commissioned INS Nistar, the country's first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony was attended by Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, who hailed the milestone as a proud moment for the nation and praised Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi for his leadership and dedication. Addressing the ceremony, Sanjay Seth said, "On this proud and special day of Nistar's commissioning, the whole country is proudly echoing the call for Aatmanirbharta, and the result is right in front of us. On this important occasion, I want to say to Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, your energy, dedication, and leadership are a matter of pride for 1.4 billion Indians." Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi termed the commissioning of INS Nistar, India's first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel, is a historic achievement. "India's first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel is a moment of great pride for all of us. I feel truly honoured to be present at its commissioning ceremony. This event is not just important for the Navy, but a historic achievement for the entire nation. On behalf of the Indian Navy, I sincerely thank the Hon'ble Minister of State for Defence for kindly accepting our invitation and joining us today as the Chief Guest," Tripathi said. He said the new Nistar carries forward the legacy of the original ship, which played a key role during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, including in detecting the Pakistani submarine Ghazi. He thanked the Minister of State for Defence for joining the event as the Chief Guest. "Nistar has returned with a new spirit and purpose. The earlier version of this ship was launched on March 29, 1971, and it played a key role in the Indo-Pak war that same year. It was based right here in Visakhapatnam and helped in identifying the Pakistani submarine Ghazi. It also made significant contributions to operations in the Eastern region. I am confident that this new Nistar will carry forward and strengthen the proud legacy of the original," he said 'Nistar', the first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel, was delivered by Hindustan Shipyard Limited to the Indian Navy on July 8, 2025, at Visakhapatnam. The warship has been designed and built as per classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The ship is highly specialised and can undertake Deep Sea Diving and Rescue Operations - a capability with select Navies across the globe. The ship's name, 'Nistar', originates from Sanskrit and means liberation, rescue or salvation. The ship, measuring 118 m with a tonnage of nearly 10,000 tons, is installed with state-of-the-art Diving Equipment and has the capability to undertake Deep Sea Saturation Diving up to 300 m depth. The ship also has a Side Diving Stage for undertaking Diving Operations up to 75 m depth. The ship will also serve as the 'Mother Ship' for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), to rescue and evacuate personnel, in case of an emergency in a submarine underwater. The ship is equipped with a combination of Remotely Operated Vehicles to undertake Diver Monitoring and Salvage Operations up to a depth of 1000 m.
