Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-02-21 13:41Core Insights - Google has launched an infrastructure initiative called "US-India Connect" aimed at enhancing network connectivity across the US, India, Australia, and Africa through new submarine cables and terrestrial fiber lines [1][3] Group 1: Infrastructure Development - The initiative is part of Google's five-year $15 billion investment in AI infrastructure in India, focusing on building digital infrastructure and skill training to improve connectivity and reduce the risk of transitioning from a "digital divide" to an "AI divide" [1] - A new international submarine cable landing station will be established in Visakhapatnam on India's east coast, along with three new submarine cable routes connecting India to Singapore, South Africa, and Australia [3] - Google plans to construct a direct connection from Visakhapatnam to South Africa, integrating with existing Equiano and Nuvem cable systems to create a high-capacity redundant route from the US East Coast to Visakhapatnam [4] Group 2: Strategic Fiber Routes - In addition to the east coast developments, a new fiber route will be built from Mumbai to Western Australia, complementing existing TalayLink and Honomoana cable systems to form another South Pacific route from the US West Coast to Mumbai [4] - The new routes will enhance the resilience of India's digital backbone by making Visakhapatnam a significant international submarine cable landing station, complementing existing stations in Mumbai and Chennai [4] Group 3: Digital Skills Training - Alongside infrastructure development, Google is advancing a digital skills training program in collaboration with the Indian government's "Karmayogi Bharat" digital mission, aiming to provide scalable learning infrastructure for over 20 million public officials across 800 regions in India [5] - The partnership will leverage AI technology to enhance the learning experience on the iGOT Karmayogi online training platform, including digitizing historical training materials and supporting over 18 Indian languages for native language learning [5] - These investments are part of Google's ongoing efforts to promote AI accessibility in Africa, Australia, and the Pacific, with plans to continue collaborating with various partners to extend the benefits of AI to all [5]