Christmas Island as AI and Defense Strategic Base
Christmas Island has 1,600 residents with poor telecoms.
Strategic location for commercial and defense uses, including AI-enabled systems and maritime monitoring.
Google leases land near airport and has energy deal with mining company.
Applying for environmental approval for SubCom subsea cable to Darwin.
Officials examine community impacts, with tourism concerns and economic hopes.
Regional tensions; allied moves include UK's Google cloud deal and prior SubCom links.
8 hours ago