Digital infrastructure for the AI age
Australia’s opportunity to lead the Asia Pacific
In this report Deloitte Access Economics assess Australia’s opportunity to become the digital infrastructure hub powering the Asia Pacific’s AI needs and beyond, unlocking a $134 billion economic windfall and creating an average of 14,300 additional jobs a year.
Produced by Deloitte Access Economics, this report provides a comprehensive overview of why Australia is well placed to meet the Asia Pacific’s growing data demands, and how we can get there – if we act within the next two years and seize the moment before it disappears.
Becoming a digital infrastructure hub means developing onshore infrastructure to power the region with at least 3.1 GW of high-quality compute, supported by subsea and terrestrial connectivity, and investing in the right enabling infrastructure. Australia is better placed than many regional competitors to develop digital infrastructure with access to available land, renewable energy, resources and workforce to secure the investment needed.
Timing is critical. The investment decisions are being made now. Once built, countries with the right digital infrastructure will capture an outsized share of the economic benefits of the next technological wave. Establishing Australia as a digital infrastructure hub will empower us to capture the economic upsides of the AI revolution at home and abroad.
Modelling undertaken for this report finds that becoming a digital infrastructure hub could grow Australia’s economy, lifting productivity in new and established industries. This opportunity is worth up to $134 billion in additional GDP over 25 years, and 14,300 average additional jobs. It could also deliver a suite of broader benefits including making the nation more resilient and secure, fortifying Australia’s cyber security, supporting decarbonisation, elevating Australia’s global reputation as a knowledge economy and creating policy sovereignty.
Realising the opportunity will require deliberate action by industry, investors and government. This includes putting digital infrastructure at the forefront of domestic discussions on Australia’s international competitiveness, getting regulatory setting right, and the private sector rigorously assessing opportunities to invest.
This report was commissioned by Google LLC.
