Google is preparing to build its first self-owned data center in France, marking a major milestone for its infrastructure in the country. The local council for the Châteauroux Métropole has approved the sale of a massive 195-hectare site within the Parc d'activités d’Ozans for €58.5 million($69.1 million) to Tricolore Computing, a French subsidiary of Google.
As reported by France Bleu, this "turnkey" industrial site was selected for its strategic access to the high-voltage power grid and its capacity to host large-scale operations, potentially focused on artificial intelligence and cloud services. The project, which could see over €1 billion in total investment, is currently in a phase of technical and environmental feasibility studies as Google transitions from leasing space in Paris to owning its first dedicated campus in the Hexagon.