Each time somebody runs a question on Search, watches a video on YouTube, appears to be like up instructions on Google Maps, or makes use of Gmail for work or college, there is a knowledge heart behind the scenes making all of it doable. We dwell in an period wherein digital communication and entry to info are foundational to the expansion and growth of nations and the individuals who dwell in them. That’s why we opened a knowledge heart in Chile in 2015 — to enhance the connectivity of our customers and the efficiency of our companies. At present, after devoted planning and evaluation, we’re taking one other step ahead with the development of a second knowledge heart in Latin America, this time in Canelones, Uruguay.
We’re investing greater than $850 million USD within the new knowledge heart, which is able to deliver better connectivity throughout the area, assist enhance the event of governments, companies and communities — whereas bettering entry to the rising demand for synthetic intelligence (AI). At present’s announcement solidifies our dedication to the pillars which have been the inspiration of our presence within the area: creating alternatives by way of digital skilling, increasing infrastructure to spice up financial growth, and supporting a extra sustainable future.
Creating alternative by way of digital abilities
Digital abilities are vital to unlocking alternatives for the following era. Along with applications resembling Google Profession Certificates, now we have invested in increasing entry to our Google Cloud Abilities Increase platform that gives on-demand coaching and ability growth. As a part of this effort, we’re already working with greater than 550 universities throughout Latin America to supply a sturdy and repeatedly up to date portfolio of studying assets to make sure their college students are able to seize the alternatives created by new applied sciences. In consequence, we’ve granted greater than 35,000 digital ability badges to college students and particular person builders in Latin America during the last 18 months.
In Uruguay, we’re collaborating with native universities such because the Universidad Tecnológica (UTEC) and the Universidad de Montevideo (UM) to include know-how content material into associated programs. And we’ve labored to advertise enterprise and innovation with two startups academies along with key companions of the ecosystem in Uruguay: the Nationwide Improvement Company (ANDE) and the Nationwide Company of Analysis and Innovation (ANII).
We hope our new knowledge heart in Canelones will probably be a big contribution to the skilled and technological growth of Uruguay and the complete area. As we break floor, and as we do in every of our knowledge heart communities, we are going to proceed investing assets in Knowledge Heart Group Affect Packages that harness the total potential of know-how, together with digital abilities trainings and new initiatives that generate financial and social influence.
Increasing technical infrastructure to spice up financial growth
Since we’ve been current in Latin America, we’ve been investing in technical infrastructure to assist individuals and companies enhance connectivity and entry to digital companies, together with Google merchandise like Search, Gmail and YouTube and Google Cloud. These investments embrace subsea cables resembling Firmina, Tannat, Curie, and Humboldt, the primary cable route between South America and Asia-Pacific, in addition to Google Cloud areas in São Paulo, Brazil, Santiago de Chile, and the long run area in Querétaro, Mexico.
Supporting a extra sustainable future
At Google, sustainability is on the coronary heart of every part we do, together with how we design and handle our knowledge facilities. Our 28 knowledge facilities in 11 nations are among the many highest performing, most safe, dependable and environment friendly on the planet. On common, a Google-operated knowledge heart is 1.8 occasions extra vitality environment friendly than a typical knowledge heart, and in comparison with 5 years in the past, we now ship roughly 4 occasions extra computing energy utilizing the identical quantity {of electrical} energy.
We’ve taken the worldwide lead within the combat towards local weather change by way of a robust dedication to scrub vitality. And we’re proud to deliver this dedication to our new knowledge heart in Uruguay, which already makes use of renewable vitality in additional than 90% of its vitality matrix.
At present marks an vital milestone for Google’s longstanding dedication to Latin America. Opening a brand new knowledge heart in Uruguay is extra than simply an effort to develop our assist for customers and prospects within the area. It means creating extra alternatives, bringing technical options to assist companies, governments and society attain their objectives, and dealing with communities to assist them strengthen their digital abilities. We’re thrilled to begin this new chapter in Uruguay and proceed boosting development within the area collectively.