Photo by Weichao Deng on Unsplash
What do giant red crabs and Google have in common? Right now, they both have their eyes (or sensors) on Christmas Island.
You might’ve seen headlines recently claiming Google is planning a powerful AI data center on the tiny, crab-covered Australian territory in the Indian Ocean. The suggestion: maybe this has something to do with military strategy in monitoring China’s naval activity.
But according to Google, that’s just not the case.
So, What’s Really Going On?
Let’s rewind. Reuters recently reported that Google was preparing to build advanced AI infrastructure on Christmas Island, a remote location that’s often seen as strategically important. The report was tied to Google’s cloud computing work with Australia’s military.
But Google quickly pushed back, saying: no data center, no AI, and definitely no military intel plans.
In a statement to Ars Technica, a Google rep said, “We are not constructing ‘a large artificial intelligence data centre’ on Christmas Island.” Instead, the work is part of the company’s Australia Connect initiative — focused on subsea cable infrastructure aimed at improving digital connectivity throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Translation: it’s about cables, not combat.
Connecting the Dots (and Cables)
Here’s what is confirmed:
- In November 2024, Google officially launched the Australia Connect project.
- The heart of that plan is the Bosun subsea cable, linking Darwin to Christmas Island, then stretching onward to Singapore.
- There’s also a planned interlink cable tying Melbourne, Perth, and Christmas Island together.
- Another big piece: Google’s working with partners like Vocus to connect Darwin to the Sunshine Coast, which will bridge into the Tabua cable system linking the U.S., Australia, and Fiji.
So yes, it’s all about building faster, more reliable internet infrastructure across the region.
But What About the Crabs?
Let’s not forget: Christmas Island isn’t just a digital frontier — it’s home to one of the planet’s most jaw-dropping natural events.
Every year, more than 100 million red crabs march across the island during their annual migration to the ocean to spawn. It’s such a showstopper that even Sir David Attenborough called it one of his all-time favorite nature moments.
Photo by Raphael Bick on Unsplash
Right now, the 2025 migration is already here, with a major spawning event expected around November 15–16.
During these peak crab moments, the island doesn’t mess around — roads shut down, and special bridges are built for crab traffic. It’s one of nature’s most dramatic commutes.
The Delicate Timing
Google has applied for environmental approvals for the cable routes. But with millions of crabs crossing the island at the same time, it’s a tricky dance between digital progress and natural wonder.
According to Parks Australia, not many baby crabs make the full journey back inland each year. The ones that do survive predators like manta rays and whale sharks. Successful migrations — the kind that actually grow the crab population — only happen once or twice a decade.
So while Google says this is about increasing connectivity in the region, the island’s true VIPs — its red crabs — are already marching. And any work done there has to find a way to live alongside them.
What’s Next?
Google hasn’t shared full timelines for construction or next steps on the island. They’ve promised to reveal more “soon.” Meanwhile, Reuters is sticking to its reporting and hasn’t retracted the original story.
But regardless of who’s right, one thing seems clear: any plans for Christmas Island will need to go through not only regulators, but also nature’s most organized crustacean parade.
Because if you’re going to lay cable on Christmas Island, you’d better make sure you’re not stepping on any tiny red toes.
Keywords: Google, Christmas Island, subsea cable, AI data center, red crabs, environmental approvals, Indo-Pacific connectivity, natural migration.
