In a landmark move, Google , a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has announced plans to invest $6 billion in developing a massive data centre and power infrastructure in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This investment marks Alphabet's first foray into data centre development in India and is set to become the largest facility of its kind in Asia, both in terms of capacity and investment size.

Project Details

The ambitious project includes:

• A 1-gigawatt data centre facility
• $2 billion allocation for renewable energy capacity to power the data centre
• Part of Google's multi-billion-dollar expansion across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand

Strategic Importance

This investment aligns with Alphabet's broader strategy of expanding its data centre capacity globally. Despite economic uncertainties, the company has committed to spending $75 billion this year on data centre capacity worldwide.

Impact on Andhra Pradesh

For Andhra Pradesh, this investment comes as a significant boost:

• The state has been seeking investments to address financial strains since losing its capital, Hyderabad, in the 2014 state split
• It adds to the state's growing data centre ecosystem, with finalized investments totaling 1.6 GW capacity
• Plans are in place to build 6 GW capacity over five years
• The initial 1.6 GW is expected to be operational within 24 months, surpassing India's current total capacity of 1.4 GW

Infrastructure Development

Andhra Pradesh is also focusing on complementary infrastructure:

• Development of three cable landing stations
• Anticipation of 10 GW power generation requirements over five years, primarily from green energy sources

Google's Green Initiative

Google's commitment to investing $2 billion in renewable energy capacity for the data centre underscores the tech giant's focus on sustainable operations. This aligns with Andhra Pradesh's emphasis on green energy sources for its expanding data centre sector.

Conclusion

Google's $6 billion investment in Visakhapatnam represents a significant milestone in India's digital infrastructure development. It not only bolsters Andhra Pradesh's position as an emerging tech hub but also highlights the growing importance of sustainable, large-scale data centres in supporting the global digital economy.

Google , the tech giant, has taken its battle over Play Store billing policies to India's highest court. The company has approached the Supreme Court to challenge a recent order by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that partially upheld the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) findings against Google's Play Store billing practices.

CCI's Initial Ruling

The Competition Commission of India had previously found Google guilty of abusing its dominant market position in the app store ecosystem. The anti-trust watchdog accused the company of unfairly requiring app developers to use its proprietary billing system for in-app purchases. As a result, the CCI imposed a substantial penalty of ₹936.00 crore on Google.

NCLAT's Partial Upholding

The NCLAT, upon review, partially upheld the CCI's decision. The appellate tribunal agreed with the assessment that Google's practices were unfair and discriminatory. However, it reduced the penalty to ₹216.00 crore, a significant decrease from the original amount.

Key Issues in the Case

The investigation into Google's practices was initiated following complaints from several prominent Indian companies and industry bodies, including:

• People Interactive India (operator of Shaadi.com)
• Mebigo Labs (owner of Kuku FM)
• Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation
• Indian Digital Media Industry Foundation

These entities raised concerns about Google's requirement for app developers to use its proprietary billing system for in-app purchases, which they viewed as anti-competitive.

Google's Defense and CCI's Rebuttal

Google attempted to justify its service fees, claiming they cover various developer services. However, the CCI rejected this argument, pointing out inconsistencies in Google's approach. The commission noted that while large apps were often exempted from these fees, smaller developers were not afforded the same privilege. The CCI termed this approach as arbitrary and discriminatory, further strengthening the case against Google's practices.

Implications and Next Steps

Google's decision to approach the Supreme Court underscores the significance of this case for its business model in India, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing digital markets. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for app developers, consumers, and the broader digital ecosystem in India.

As the case moves to the Supreme Court, all eyes will be on the final verdict, which could potentially reshape the app store landscape in India and influence similar cases globally. The tech industry, regulators, and app developers will be keenly watching for any developments that could impact the future of app store policies and digital market competition.