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Malaysia's data center sector is on a tear, with investment surging threefold in 2024. Data center firms committed 141.7 billion Malaysian ringgit (US$31.5 billion) in just the first ten months of last year, up from MYR46.2 billion ($10.3 billion) over 2023.

Singapore's Keppel aims to more than double its data centre funds under management from S$9 billion ($6.80 billion) to S$19 billion soon. This initiative is fueled by rising demand for digital infrastructure due to increased adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies by companies. Keppel is well-positioned to meet the need for AI-ready data centres, with a robust portfolio of 35 facilities across Asia Pacific and Europe. The company intends to expand its data centre capacity from 650 megawatts to a target of 1.2 gigawatts. Meanwhile, a separate report indicated that the global asset manager's underlying net profit for the nine months ending September 30 remained mostly flat compared to the prior year. #CloudComputing #Singapore https://lnkd.in/gtRuDjtr

The AI boom has intensified the global race to build data centers, especially in Southeast Asia, with significant investments in Singapore and Malaysia. 🌍 Singapore, despite a past moratorium, leads with high data center capacity but faces growth constraints due to power and space limitations. 💡 Malaysia is rapidly closing the gap, with substantial investments and plans to double its capacity, potentially becoming the ASEAN region’s largest data center hub. ⚡ Thailand's abundant power supply and focus on renewable energy present it as a strong contender, attracting investments but aiming to balance the demand-supply equation. Story by Therese S., republished from The Business Times. - Want to keep up with the ins and outs of the #tech ecosystem in Asia? Sign up for free at techin.asia/newsletters

Thailand’s ‘data centre rush’ is starting, as Malaysia strains to keep pace with surging demand: Macquarie Analysts at financial services company choose Bangkok-based Gulf Energy as their top pick Summary: The Southeast Asian data center market is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by global tech companies racing to meet the demand for infrastructure and computing power fueled by AI. While Malaysia continues to expand its data center capacity, it is struggling to keep pace with surging demand due to power constraints. Johor, a key data center hub, recently rejected 30% of applications over the past five months to conserve resources and prioritize local benefits. Meanwhile, Thailand is emerging as a strong competitor in the region's "data center rush." With ample power infrastructure and supportive regulations, Thailand is well-positioned to attract investments from global players like Amazon and Google, particularly in the Eastern Economic Corridor. The shift to a "site-to-power" model—building data centers near robust power sources—is further enhancing Thailand’s appeal as a destination for hyperscaler facilities. Macquarie analysts highlighted Gulf Energy as their top pick in Thailand, citing its dual role in developing data centers and supplying power to hyperscalers. In Malaysia, they identified YTL Power and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) as key players, with YTL Power's AI data center set to launch in mid-2025, featuring early access to Nvidia’s GB200 servers. As AI workloads grow exponentially, Southeast Asia, led by Thailand and Malaysia, is cementing its status as a critical data center hub, attracting multibillion-dollar investments while addressing power and sustainability challenges. #DataCenters #AI #SoutheastAsia #Thailand #Malaysia #DigitalInfrastructure #Hyperscalers #Sustainability #PowerInfrastructure #TechGrowth #CloudComputing

The dramatic growth of the data center opportunity across growth markets will benefit infrastructure investors already there, says Thomas Liu, a Partner at global infrastructure investment firm Actis. Actis recently launched a data center platform called Epoch Digital, which has developments in Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan. Liu points to the recent transformation of the Malaysian market as evidence that countries once far behind the information revolution are rapidly becoming digital hubs. In reaction to a moratorium on new data centers in Singapore, neighboring Johor, Malaysia has gone from "zero to over a gigawatt of power announced," notes Liu. Global hyperscaler customers eyeing growth markets may initially measure modest demand, but "the demand will inevitably grow over time. And so as a new partner to the hyperscalers as they enter the market, we will then continue to grow with them into these markets, since we have built a track record of delivering," says Liu. Liu made his comments in the Cool Vector episode, "Actis' Sustainable Strategy in Digital Infrastructure." Watch the full episode on the Cool Vector YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/eK58Kf7T Access the episode on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eWXTdr8T Visit the Cool Vector website: https://lnkd.in/ezAu-bdT

Here are my MAGIC TOP 3 news bites from the world🌍 of Data Centre & AI this week... 1️⃣ Vietnam opens data centre market to foreign investors Vietnam previously limited ownership of data centres in the country to a partial 49% ceiling for foreign companies. In May 2024, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres announced that it was planning a 60MW data centre in Tan Thuan, Vietnam, and took over operations of another in Ho Chi Minh City. That month also saw Alibaba Group share that it would be building a data centre in the country. 2️⃣ UK university enhances campus using data centre waste heat Queen Mary University of London has announced plans to repurpose waste heat from its data centre to provide hot water and heating for the campus. The Priestley building refurbishment project will introduce a heat recovery system to capture waste heat from the data centre. This system will convert the waste heat into hot water reaching temperatures up to 75°C. This high-grade hot water can directly integrate into existing plumbing and heating systems, reducing reliance on conventional gas boilers and fossil fuels. 3️⃣ AITOMATIC announced SemiKong, the world’s first open-source AI Large Language Model (LLM) designed specifically for the semiconductor industry. Unveiled at Semicon West 2024, SemiKong aims to revolutionize semiconductor processes and fabrication technology, potentially reshaping the $500 billion semiconductor industry in the next five years, the company said. Comments... Dropping that 49% ownership cap is like rolling out the red carpet for global players > Heat reuse is gaining traction in the UK > The first open-source AI model for the semiconductor industry is a game-changer. Onwards... PS- FEEL FREE TO ADD MORE NEWSBITES in the Comments... #Datacentres #AI #Datacenters

How Malaysia is setting itself up as an AI hub   By Rizwal Zakaria (The Edge)   KUALA LUMPUR : In recent years, Malaysia has emerged as a data centre powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by a global surge in demand and an established data centre sector.   With favourable conditions such as the availability of land, cheaper electricity, and an advantageous geographical location, the country has attracted numerous firms to establish data centre operations within its borders.   As interest surged, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA), the national electricity provider in Malaysia, responded by launching the Green Lane Pathway initiative in 2023 to streamline power approvals for data centres, reducing lead time from three to four years to as short as 12 months.

Is Singapore doing enough in the data centre race? While some market analysts feel the new Green Data Centre Roadmap may not be sufficient to attract large-scale investments, the policy looks like a smart way for the country to play to its strengths in a mature industry. Summary: The recent announcement of Singapore's Green Data Centre Roadmap has sparked debate among industry analysts. The plan, unveiled by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on May 30, allocates at least 300 MW of additional capacity for data centers in the near term, with potential for more if proposals meet stringent green energy criteria. This move follows a moratorium on new data center builds from 2019 to 2022. Some analysts argue that 300 MW is insufficient to attract large-scale investments, especially in a world increasingly focused on generative AI and hyperscale data centers. However, the roadmap's goal isn't to position Singapore as a hub for massive data centers or AI training, which demand extensive power and result in high carbon emissions. Instead, it aims to strategically capture digital opportunities while addressing sustainability. With limited renewable energy generation capacity, Singapore is focusing on developing a sustainable data center ecosystem. The roadmap emphasizes enhancing efficiency across the digital stack, moving beyond traditional methods like using NEWater or rooftop solar panels. Senior Minister of State Dr. Janil Puthucheary highlighted the government's intent to turn constraints into opportunities for innovation and sustainable growth. Despite concerns about whether 300 MW is sufficient to drive meaningful change, Singapore's strategic approach includes leveraging policies, accreditation programs, and incentive schemes to promote sustainable data centers. Additionally, the proposed Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) may enhance cross-border collaboration, potentially amplifying the impact of digital infrastructure development. Singapore's history of overcoming challenges through strategic planning and execution suggests it could redefine data center possibilities by combining its mature data center landscape, SEZ potential, and sustainability focus. Paul Mah #GreenDataCentres #Sustainability #DigitalInfrastructure #Singapore #DataCentreGrowth #RenewableEnergy #EnergyEfficiency #SEZ #Innovation #EnvironmentalStewardship https://lnkd.in/dDgpBGdw

Sustainability is the Key to Malaysia’s Data Centre Growth Malaysia has rapidly emerged as a data centre powerhouse in Southeast Asia, attracting major investments from tech giants such as Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft. However, the sustainability of this growth remains a critical concern. I emphasized that data centres are the backbone of our digital future, but their sustainability hinges on how effectively we conserve energy, water, and natural resources. Without stringent sustainability measures, Malaysia risks facing the same constraints that led Singapore to impose a moratorium on data centre investments in 2019. To ensure long-term viability, Malaysia must: Adopt advanced cooling technologies to reduce energy consumption. Integrate renewable energy sources into data centre operations. Prioritize water recycling to mitigate the environmental impact. Develop local manufacturing capabilities to retain greater economic value within the country. While global tech players already incorporate sustainability into their operations, it is essential for local players to align with these best practices. Malaysia’s ability to position itself as a leader in sustainable and resilient data centre operations will determine its competitiveness in the evolving digital economy. I’m glad to have contributed my perspectives on this pressing issue. #SustainableDataCenters #DigitalInfrastructure #RenewableEnergy #CoolingEfficiency #Malaysia #AI #CloudComputing #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/gQxaJ2BB