AWS to Build Australia’s Digital Backbone with $13B Plan
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled a monumental A$20 billion (US$13 billion) investment plan to dramatically expand its cloud and AI infrastructure across Australia between 2025 and 2029.
The move represents the largest private tech investment in the nation’s history, setting the stage for Australia to become a leading digital hub in the Asia Pacific region.
The funds will be directed toward building and modernizing data centers in Sydney and Melbourne, while also extending AWS’s reach to cities like Brisbane and Perth through edge computing solutions.
This strategic expansion aims to support the explosive demand for AI-powered services, secure cloud storage, and advanced computing capacity.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who met with AWS executives in Seattle, hailed the announcement:
“This investment marks a defining moment for Australia’s tech future. It will create thousands of skilled jobs, boost our digital economy, and place us at the forefront of global innovation.”
Beyond infrastructure, AWS will also invest in clean energy development, funding three major solar power projects in Victoria and Queensland. This aligns with the company’s broader goal of operating entirely on renewable energy by 2025.
In a strategic twist, AWS is reportedly exploring a “classified cloud” platform tailored for sensitive government and defense workloads a clear signal of growing tech cooperation between the United States and Australia in matters of national security.
AWS CEO Matt Garman noted that the surge in generative AI adoption is reshaping the demands of the cloud industry:
“The future of computing requires bold action today. Australia is a vital part of our global roadmap.”
This announcement joins a wave of similar AWS investments around the globe, as the cloud giant competes with other tech heavyweights to lead the next generation of AI infrastructure and services.
