HOLY SUNDAY.-He President Luis Abinader stated that the investment of Google for US$500 million in the construction of the first digital exchange port outside the United States will mark a turning point for economic and technological development in the country, by generating specialized jobs and attracting new industries linked to the knowledge economy.
During the presentation of the project, the president maintained that the initiative not only represents an improvement in infrastructure, but also a strategic bet for the productive future of the country.
“What this means is simple and powerful: more speed, more security, more resilience and more opportunities for our country,” said Abinader, highlighting that the initial installation of two new submarine cables will significantly increase data transmission capacity and reduce latency in digital services.
The head of state assured that international experience shows that when a nation strengthens its high-capacity connectivity, a “virtuous circle” is activated that drives the arrival of data centers, technology companies, developers and projects linked to innovation.
“And most importantly: it creates specialized jobs, promotes Dominican talent and opens real opportunities for our young people,” he emphasized.
Jobs and digital economy
As explained by Google executives, the new infrastructure will turn the country into a strategic node for the flow of information between North America, Central America and South America. The project contemplates the construction of a digital exchange port, a facility where large networks, technology companies, banks, content platforms and telephone operators will be able to interconnect directly to exchange data without the need to route traffic to other countries.
In practical terms, this will allow digital services that currently require leaving the territory to be processed to be resolved locally, reducing response times and strengthening communications security.
The company explained that the country currently has six submarine fiber optic cables, five with more than five years in operation. With the new infrastructure, direct cables to the United States will be tripled and the pairs of fibers coming from that country will be multiplied by ten, considerably expanding data transmission capacity.
Abinader stressed that this improvement in connectivity is key to attracting investments in data centers, cloud services, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and technological financial services.
“In the 21st century, connectivity is not a luxury,” said the president, while reiterating that the Dominican Republic does not want to be just a user of technology, but rather a protagonist in its development.
Declaration of national interest
During the meeting, the president issued a decree to declare the construction of digital ports of national interest, as part of the strategy to position the country as a technological hub in the Caribbean.
Google reported that the works are already underway and that the project would be completed at the beginning of 2027. It is the company’s first digital exchange port in America outside the United States and the eighth worldwide.
For the Government, this investment places the Dominican Republic on the map of the data-based economy, where speed, stability and connection capacity are determining factors for competitiveness and the generation of high value-added jobs.
“Today, development is also measured in fiber optics, in data capacity, in innovation and in talent. And we are determined to lead that path,” Abinader concluded.
Google will build a digital port
Impact. The vice president of Global Network Infrastructure at Google, Brian Quigley, explained that the initiative places the Dominican Republic at the center of exchange of artificial intelligence between North America, South America and Central America, strengthening its position within the regional technological ecosystem. Google’s Director of Global Infrastructure, Cristian Ramos, highlights that this is Google’s eighth port in the world and the first in Latin America.
The first phase of the investment exceeds 500 million dollars and will place the Dominican Republic at the center of information exchange on the continent. For his part, President Luis Abinader signed Decree 113-26, which declares investment in digital ports of high interest.
