AirTrunk to invest another US$3 billion on two new hyperscale campuses in Malaysia

AirTrunk’s Malaysia platform will deliver more than 700MW across four campuses once ready, with plans for further expansion in the country.

3d illustration. Sleek, futuristic interior of a modern data center with rows of server racks, glass railings, and cool blue, white lighting. Concept for cloud computing and big data storage.

AirTrunk plans to invest US$#3billion to develop two new data centres in Malaysia. The two new data centers, called JHB3 and JHB4 will be in the country’s data center hub in the state of Johor.

Once completed, the data centers will have a combined capacity of more than 280 megawatts of IT load. This brings AirTrunk’s IT load to more than 700 MW. The existing JHB1 and JHB2 campuses (totaling more than 420MW of IT load) are almost 100% contracted and tracking well ahead of investment plans.

Earlier this year, Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia implemented a strict approval policy for data center developments in the country to protect national power and water resources. With a focus on projects that are AI-related and bring high-tech value add to the country, the new campuses by AirTrunk will be purpose-built to support high-density cloud and AI workloads.

"This investment commitment is highly welcomed and is expected to further strengthen Malaysia's position as a competitive, progressive, and high-capacity regional digital hub. This decision reflects investors' confidence, especially global technology companies', in Malaysia's advantages as a strategic partner, as the government continues to refine policies and improve the efficiency of data center development and operations," the Prime Minister said.

Featuring a flexible, scalable, and resilient design, the data center designs prioritize energy efficiency, operating at significantly lower power usage levels than conventional data centers. The campuses will also include advanced cooling systems that utilize 100% recycled water, minimizing any impact on local resources.

AirTrunk will also be working with local suppliers to build and operate the data center, with US$107 million already awarded and expected to reach US$1.5 billion upon the completion of all four campuses.

According to Robin Khuda, Founder & CEO, AirTrunk, JHB3 and JHB4 represents the next phase of expansion in Malaysia, building on the strong momentum of the existing Johor platform.

“Malaysia has set a clear ambition to lead in AI, and we’re investing in that vision for the long term, both within Johor and across the country in time. Our confidence comes from the strong partnership we have with the Malaysian Government and local stakeholders, who have supported us every step of the way. As we scale, the way we grow will matter as much as the trajectory. With that investment comes a responsibility to support communities, manage resources wisely, and embed that in how we plan, build and operate every day,” he said.

Post JHB3 and JHB4, AirTrunk will scale to more than over 3.3 GW of operating and planned capacity, across 22 campuses in six operating regions (Australia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and India). This expansion follows AirTrunk’s announcement of entry into India last week, with a US$5 billion investment also planned into the Indian market.