NEXTDC Limited, Australia’s digital infrastructure provider, yesterday launched its first data center outside of Australia, a 65MW AI-ready facility built at a cost of A$1 billion (US$ 720 million). Located in Petaling Jaya, the facility, KL1, represents the first Uptime Institute Tier IV-certified hyperscale data centre in Peninsular Malaysia, according to the firm’s press release.
As its first international data center, KL1 Kuala Lumpur will serve as a launchpad into Southeast Asia to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services across the region. The facility supports AI and advanced digital workloads. Stage 1 is now operational with future expansion stages already underway, and customers are preparing to deploy into the facility, according to the firm’s Linkedin posting.
“A second data center in Malaysia is being considered,” said NEXTDC Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Craig Scroggie at a reception held in the evening.
NEXTDC is also in the midst of planning data centers in New Zealand and Japan, according to its website.
Scroggie added, “We are in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and AI is redefining the requirements of critical infrastructure. The challenge is no longer access to technology, but the ability to deploy it at speed, at scale, and within sovereign governance frameworks. KL1 Kuala Lumpur has been purpose-built to meet the needs of the market – providing a high-performance, sovereign-ready environment where customers can run next-generation compute workloads with confidence. This is not only about entering a new market. It is about NEXTDC establishing infrastructure platforms in the locations where customers need to operate, connect and scale in the AI economy.”
Minister of Digital Gobind Singh Deo said, “The launch of NEXTDC’s KL1 facility is a significant milestone in our mission to establish Malaysia as the premier digital hub of Southeast Asia and a key driver of the regional AI economy. The Ministry of Digital remains committed to supporting such strategic partnerships that act as catalysts for high-value job creation, digital talent development and sustainable economic growth for all Malaysians.”
Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke said, “NEXTDC, like many Australian companies, is a reliable and long-term investor in Malaysia. The Australian Government is supporting investors like NEXTDC in Southeast Asia under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.”
Listed in Australia, NEXTDC builds Australia’s only network of Uptime Institute certified Tier IV facilities and provides Data center-as-a-Service.