Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands could become the next major global internet data hub, adding that the central government will extend full support to realise the initiative. Speaking at ‘Bharat AI Shakti’, an event organised by Google ahead of the India AI Summit, the minister underlined the islands’ strategic position in the Indian Ocean and their potential to host international data connectivity infrastructure.
Vaishnaw said Singapore, which currently handles a significant portion of global data traffic, is already overburdened, making Andaman a viable alternative for data routing and subsea cable connectivity. “The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are strategically located. Singapore is already overburdened. Why can’t we make Andaman the next major hub for global internet data transfer? From the Government of India’s perspective, we will provide full support for this initiative,” he said.
The minister also noted that the islands’ proximity to Southeast Asia, Australia, and other regions seeking expanded data capacity gives them a unique geographical advantage. Such connectivity, he said, would enable global technology firms like Google and other internet-based organisations to explore Andaman as a major digital node.
To further strengthen regional digital infrastructure, Vaishnaw proposed establishing a Vizag-Sittwe (Myanmar) link to enhance connectivity to India’s northeastern states. He said the extension of subsea cables via Myanmar to Mizoram would be a major step in that direction. The railway line up to Sairang in Mizoram has already been completed, and work is underway to extend it to the Myanmar border, he said, in line with directives from the Prime Minister.
Vaishnaw emphasised that India’s digital economy is witnessing rapid evolution, with Artificial Intelligence emerging as a transformative force. He called on Google to leverage its expertise to create employment and skill development opportunities. Referring to Google’s introduction of Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), he welcomed the move as a way to complement Nvidia’s GPU dominance and expand the country’s computer infrastructure under the India AI Mission.
The minister said the India AI Mission would benefit significantly from such public-private collaborations, particularly through efforts to upskill and reskill India’s technology workforce in line with changing demands. He urged Google to play a role in advancing this reskilling drive.
Google, during the same event, announced the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The company plans to deploy its full AI stack there, aiming to accelerate AI-driven transformation across India. The $15 billion investment over five years (2026-2030) is Google’s largest commitment to India so far.
The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s Viksit Bharat Vision, which seeks to harness technology and AI to drive economic growth and innovation. Google’s planned AI hub is expected to serve as a base for research, development, and deployment of advanced AI models, benefiting sectors like healthcare, education, and digital infrastructure.
The developments, experts suggest, could signal the start of a new phase in India’s digital strategy, one that extends beyond the mainland to integrate the islands into the nation’s broader connectivity and data ecosystem. With Andaman being positioned as a potential data hub and Vizag emerging as an AI nerve centre, the government’s digital roadmap appears set for expansion into previously untapped geographies.
