The move marks the tech giant’s first step to expanding in central and eastern Europe
U.S. tech giant Google today launched a new cloud data hub in Warsaw with an investment of nearly US$2.0 billion. The opening marks Google Cloud’s 25th location worldwide, and the first cloud region in central and eastern Europe.
Google first announced its Polish partnership details in September 2019 as the company joined with Poland’s national cloud operator, Chmura Krajowa. At that time, Google CEO Thomas Kurian explained the move in a blog post. “Digital technologies are becoming the next growth engine for the Polish economy,” Kurian said.
“This is why we are forming a strategic partnership with Poland’s Domestic Cloud Provider (DCP), helping new and established Polish businesses to take advantage of all that the cloud has to offer.”
A business based on partnership
DCP is a joint entity of PKO Bank Polski and the Polish Development Fund. It will become a reseller of Google Cloud services in Poland and will build managed services capabilities around Google Cloud.
PKO Bank Polski, Poland’s largest commercial bank, was on hand this week for the virtual announcement. LLP, Poland’s largest retailer, and UPC Polska, a telecoms operator, were also in attendance.
“Google Cloud is here to support Polish businesses, helping them get smarter with data, deploy faster, connect more easily with people and customers throughout the globe, and protect everything that matters to their businesses,” wrote Magdalena Dziewguć, Google Cloud Poland country manager in a blog. “The cloud region in Warsaw offers new technology and tools that can be a catalyst for this change.”
Google’s move into Warsaw makes it the first of the three biggest hyperscalers to launch in Poland. Microsoft has announced that it will also locate its Poland Central region in Warsaw, but no set date has been announced.
Google’s Polish centre is part of its larger expansion scheme for Europe. That master plan includes regions to open soon in Madrid, Milan, and Paris.
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