Google commits €13bn for Finnish AI data centres; Philippines plans $34.4bn expansion

Google announced on Wednesday it will invest €13 billion in data centres across four Finnish municipalities: Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos, and Vaala. The project includes supporting infrastructure, clean energy initiatives, and funds for local biodiversity, education, and workforce development. Construction is scheduled to begin between 2027 and 2028. Google estimated the investment would add €3.6 billion annually to Finland's GDP and support over 37,000 jobs initially, with about 16,000 dedicated to construction. Long-term projections indicate approximately 7,000 annual positions for technical roles and facility management once building stops. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated the move highlights Finland's leadership in building responsible AI infrastructure.

Separately, the Philippines finalized an Artificial Intelligence infrastructure masterplan targeting $34.4 billion in total spending. Launched on September 8 by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the plan aims to increase AI-ready data centre capacity to 1.5 gigawatts by 2033. Initial goals involve deploying 400 megawatts by 2030 from a roughly 50 megawatt baseline. The program combines public spending with substantial private investment.

Two US-headquartered hyperscalers are currently assessing potential sites in Luzon. Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda confirmed two unnamed companies are conducting due diligence on locations within the Bataan-Clark and Batangas-Aurora corridors. Each firm is considering approximately 200 megawatts of capacity over five years, though officials emphasized these figures represent evaluated projects rather than committed investments.