US-based Vantage to put US$3bil additional investment in Cyberjaya
16 May 2023
United States-based hyper-scale data centre provider, Vantage Data Centers (Vantage), is putting additional investment of US$3 billion (US$1=RM4.50) in the next 10 years for the development of its second data centre campus (KUL2) in Cyberjaya.
The investment was formalised with the signing of an agreement with Cyberview Sdn Bhd, the tech hub developer of Cyberjaya, witnessed by Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil and US Ambassador to Malaysia Brian D McFeeters.
Cyberview acting managing director Dr Mohd Hafiz Ibrahim said the agreement with Vantage set the stage for Cyberjaya to be an ideal location for hyper-scale data centre providers.
“Currently, 90 per cent of colocation providers in Malaysia are based in Cyberjaya, leveraging our world-class infrastructure with dark fibre connectivity,” he said after the signing ceremony here today.
The agreement was signed by Vantage’s Asia-Pacific Business chief operating officer Giles Proctor and site selection and new site development vice president Paul Gilsenan while Cyberview by Mohd Hafiz and chief financial officer Izatul Arini Mohd Ariff Albakri.
KUL2 will be located adjacent to Vantage’s current data centre campus (KUL1) and consist of 10 data centres with 256 megawatt (MW) of Information Technology (IT) capacity to meet the demand for hyper-scale data centre services.
At the event, Cyberview also signed a memorandum of understanding with Leave a Nest Malaysia (LVNS), a subsidiary of a Japan-based science venture company, Leave a Nest Co Ltd, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the technology and innovation ecosystem in Cyberjaya.
Mohd Hafiz said Cyberview’s collaboration with Leave a Nest Malaysia would reinforce the culture of innovation fostering in Cyberjaya.
“This partnership will not only benefit the startup community but will also contribute to the growth and development of the entire technology and innovation ecosystem,” he said.
With support from Cyberview and 18 local players, LVNS aims to generate RM100 million in economic impact through its development programmes which include several signature initiatives in Cyberjaya such as the Centre of Garage Malaysia, a knowledge-based tech development initiative that is aimed at supporting startups in Malaysia as well as the region.
Meanwhile, Fahmi, when met by reporters after the signing ceremony, said the commitment by Vantage and LVSN gave the best signal that foreign investors still choose Malaysia as their preferred investment destination.
“We are aware that data processing centres are long-term investments and this proves that some of the government’s initiatives and decisions are correct and prove it will be a signal that economic growth in the country is driven more positively,” he said.
On the digital economy that is projected to contribute 25.5 per cent to the gross domestic product in 2025, Fahmi said he is optimistic that the number is achievable earlier with the entry of foreign investors.
“I understand in several more months, we will hear more news on investments coming into the country, covering data centres and digital economy,” he added.
Source: Bernama
