Technology

Google Selects Dominican Republic for Its First Latin American Digital Exchange Hub

Google has officially chosen the Dominican Republic as the location for its first digital exchange hub in Latin America, marking one of the most significant technology investments in the Caribbean. The announcement was made at the National Palace by President Luis Abinader alongside Google’s Vice President of Global Network Infrastructure, Brian Quigley.

The new hub will cover more than 7,000 square meters, making it Google’s eighth facility of this type worldwide and the first one built in the Americas outside the United States. Construction is scheduled to begin in March, with operations expected to start next year.

🟩 A Major Boost for Dominican Connectivity

For decades, the Dominican Republic has depended on a single aging subsea cable to connect directly to the United States. Google’s project will transform that landscape by hosting up to four international subsea cables, including two new direct links to the U.S. mainland in the first phase.

This upgrade will triple the country’s direct U.S. connections, multiply fiber-optic capacity tenfold, and significantly reduce latency. The hub will also be linked to two Google Cloud regions in the southeastern United States, giving local businesses and institutions access to more advanced cloud and AI services.

🟦 Government Support and Strategic Position

President Abinader reinforced the importance of digital development by signing a decree that designates digital infrastructure as a national priority and simplifies the approval process for subsea cable systems.

The Dominican Republic’s geographic position is a key advantage. Located at the meeting point of North, Central, and South America, the country is naturally positioned to become a major data-routing center for the region.

🟧 Economic Impact and Long-Term Benefits

Google officials noted that countries hosting similar hubs have experienced measurable economic growth, including increases in GDP. The Dominican Republic has already seen its internet traffic grow more than 500% in the last five years, with more than one-third of that traffic originating from the United States. Much of the country’s current cable infrastructure is over two decades old, making modernization urgent.

By becoming a regional digital gateway, the Dominican Republic stands to attract:

• Data centers

• AI and cloud companies

• Technology startups

• High-value digital and engineering jobs

The project also aligns with Google's global strategy to expand submarine cable systems and improve worldwide connectivity.