Google invests $850 Million in new Latin American data center in Uruguay

Google yesterday unveiled plans to construct its second data center in Latin America. The facility, located in Canelones, Uruguay, represents an investment of over $850 million USD. This announcement, made just yesterday, marks a significant expansion of Google's infrastructure in the region, following the establishment of its first Latin American data center in Chile in 2015.

Eduardo López, President of Google Cloud for Latin America, shared details about the project in a company blog post. The new data center aims to enhance connectivity across the region, support the development of governments, businesses, and communities, and meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

The decision to build in Uruguay aligns with Google's strategy to improve the performance of its services and user connectivity in Latin America. Data centers play a crucial role in powering popular Google services such as Search, YouTube, Google Maps, and Gmail. They are the backbone of digital communication and information access, which are increasingly vital for the growth and development of countries and their populations.

Google's investment in Uruguay is part of a broader commitment to Latin America, focusing on three main pillars: creating opportunities through digital skilling, expanding infrastructure to boost economic development, and supporting a more sustainable future.

In terms of digital skills development, Google has been actively collaborating with educational institutions across Latin America. The company has partnered with over 550 universities in the region to offer training and skill development through its Google Cloud Skills Boost platform. This initiative has resulted in the granting of more than 35,000 digital skill badges to students and individual developers in Latin America over the past 18 months.

Specifically in Uruguay, Google has established partnerships with local institutions such as the Universidad Tecnológica (UTEC) and the Universidad de Montevideo (UM) to incorporate technology content into relevant courses. The company has also worked to promote business and innovation through two startup academies, collaborating with key ecosystem partners including the National Development Agency (ANDE) and the National Agency of Research and Innovation (ANII).

The new data center is expected to contribute significantly to the professional and technological development of Uruguay and the surrounding region. As part of its community engagement strategy, Google plans to invest in Data Center Community Impact Programs, which will focus on digital skills training and projects aimed at generating economic and social impact.

Google's expansion of technical infrastructure in Latin America extends beyond data centers. The company has invested in several subsea cables to improve connectivity in the region. These include the Firmina, Tannat, and Curie cables, as well as the Humboldt cable, which will be the first to connect South America directly with the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, Google Cloud regions have been established in São Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile, with another planned for Querétaro, Mexico.

Sustainability is a key focus for Google's data center operations. The company reports that its data centers are, on average, 1.8 times more energy-efficient than typical data centers. Google has also made significant strides in improving computing power efficiency, now delivering approximately four times more computing power using the same amount of electrical power compared to five years ago.

The new data center in Uruguay will align with Google's commitment to clean energy. Uruguay's energy matrix already relies on renewable sources for more than 90% of its power, which aligns well with Google's sustainability goals.

Google's data center network currently spans 11 countries, with 28 facilities in operation. These data centers are designed to be high-performing, secure, reliable, and efficient. The addition of the Uruguay facility will expand this network and strengthen Google's presence in Latin America.

The construction of the new data center is expected to create jobs and stimulate economic activity in the Canelones region. While specific employment figures were not provided, data center projects typically generate both short-term construction jobs and long-term technical and operational roles.