Go/no-go case for launching a Google Cloud region in Portugal

You are a product manager at Google Cloud. Leadership is considering adding a Google Cloud Platform region in Portugal. Would you recommend building it? Give a clear recommendation and the reasoning behind it. ```hint Ask what Portugal adds Google already runs cloud regions elsewhere in Europe. Work out what a region inside Portugal would give customers that a nearby region cannot, who needs that, and what else could meet the need more cheaply. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - Is there a trigger behind the idea, such as a large customer, a public-sector requirement or a competitor's move, or is this an open evaluation? - Is the choice a full region or nothing, or are smaller options such as an edge location or a dedicated deployment for specific customers also on the table? - What payback horizon and investment bar should a new region meet? - Are we deciding whether to build in Portugal at all, or ranking Portugal against other candidate countries for the next European region? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - The goal a Portugal region would serve and the customer segments that would use it - What an in-country region adds over existing nearby regions: residency and sovereignty, latency and resilience - Demand, competition, and feasibility factors such as power, connectivity, natural hazards and regulation - Alternatives to a full region, a clear recommendation, and the evidence that would change it - How to judge the region's success after launch ### Follow-up Questions - A large Portuguese bank says it will move core systems to the cloud only if its data stays in the country. How does that change your recommendation? - With budget for one new region in Southern Europe, how would you compare Portugal with other candidates? - Which metrics would show, within the first year after launch, whether the region was a good bet?