Firmus Signs OpenAI Deal to Build AI Data Centres in Malaysia
Synopsis
Firmus has secured OpenAI as an anchor customer for two new Malaysian AI data centres. The agreement takes contracted computing capacity to 900MW and expands Firmus’ planned footprint across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia, as Malaysia’s national data centre capacity is forecast to reach 2,055MW this year.
Firmus has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with OpenAI to build two new AI data centres in Malaysia for OpenAI, as part of the deal.
The deal brings Firmus’ contracted capacity to 900 megawatts (MW) and sees the company extend its planned data centre footprint beyond its existing operations in Malaysia to also include Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia.
With two smaller facilities already commissioned, five more data centres are due to be completed by the end of 2028.
Malaysia becomes Firmus’ fourth Asia-Pacific market
The Firmus OpenAI deal is the first contract in Malaysia for the company, which also has projects in Australia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
In addition to the 360MW data centre campus development in Batam, Indonesia, which is currently under construction, Firmus is also constructing another 360MW data centre campus in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Together with the new 900 MW capacity contract with Open AI, the company’s overall capacity on the platform reaches 900 MW.
As the Malaysian data centre market grows exponentially, the Firmus OpenAI deal is a welcome addition.
The data centre market capacity in Malaysia is expected to grow to 2,055 MW in 2026, more than double the previously projected capacity, according to JLL research.
Johor, in particular, is a critical growth driver for the data centre industry in Malaysia, as it is one of the fastest-growing data centre markets in the Asia-Pacific, according to JLL.
Furthermore, there is a rise in the installation of additional investment funds and broader data centre investments.
The Firmus OpenAI deal follows the company’s strategic equity investment in the United States Of US $2 billion announced in August. The transaction has put Firmus' total equity raised in the past year over US$3 billion, and a valuation of more than US$10.5 billion.
The latest fundraising saw the firm value A$15.5 billion, based on more recent reporting, while it is also set to list on the ASX.
Meanwhile, the data centre industry is set to benefit from the explosion in demand for AI, with approximately 100 gigawatts (GW) of new data centre capacity due to be built between 2026 and 2030, requiring investments of up to US$3 trillion.
According to Wells Fargo, the 900 MW contracted capacity in the Firmus OpenAI arrangement would represent approximately US$41 billion in capital expenditures.
Source: AFR
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
