Australia’s very own data centre as a service provider, NEXTDC Limited, is embarking on an extraordinary venture into the vibrant Malaysian market. Introducing KL1, an awe-inspiring, state-of-the-art data centre facility nestled in the heart of the Klang Valley metropolitan region in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s cultural, financial, and economic epicentre.
Honourary guests standing behind the KL1 blueprint
KL1 is set to revolutionise the data centre landscape in Peninsular Malaysia as the first-ever Uptime Institute (UI) Tier IV certified facility. Strategically situated in Petaling Jaya, KL1’s prime location positions it within 10km of the bustling Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, and in close proximity to major networks and business hubs in the dynamic Klang Valley. The facility is engineered for rapid scalability and is projected to reach a staggering 65MW of IT critical power. Offering direct cloud interconnectivity, KL1 is poised to welcome customers into its visionary space starting in 2025.
The arrival of KL1 heralds NEXTDC’s grand entrance into the thriving Asian market, replete with some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing data centre markets. Malaysia has been deemed an ideal launchpad for NEXTDC’s Asian expansion due to its burgeoning demand for cutting-edge data centre solutions, an increasingly sophisticated digital economy, high data consumption per capita, and a growing adoption of cloud-based technologies.
NEXTDC plans to leverage its extensive ecosystem of over 750 technology partners, including global hyperscale customers, to market its services in KL1. A considerable number of these partners have imminent plans to commence operations in Malaysia while existing and new enterprise and government customers are eagerly anticipated to join the fold.
In a bold move, NEXTDC will establish Malaysia as its regional hub for further expansion across Asia. Alongside KL1, the company will develop a ground-breaking regional operations centre, housing a multidisciplinary team dedicated to supporting growth throughout the Asian region. This visionary initiative paves the way for continued investment in the region, as numerous Asian economies ride the wave of robust underlying economic tailwinds and rapid digital service adoption.
Over the next 5 to 10 years, NEXTDC has committed to investing approximately RM3 billion in Malaysia. But their investment extends beyond mere financial support. NEXTDC is deeply committed to nurturing Malaysia’s ICT and digital workforce, spearheading digital skilling and educational initiatives that will empower individuals to drive Malaysia’s competitive advantage in the Asian market.
From left to right: Douglas Flynn, Non-Executive Chairman of NEXTDC, Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC, Sam Lim, Member of Parliament, Australian House of Representatives, Yang Berhormat Tuan Ahmad Fahmi Bin Mohamed Fadzil, Minister of Communications and Digital, Craig Scroggie, CEO of NEXTDC, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Haji Amirudin Bin Shari, Chief Minister of Selangor, Yang Berbahagia Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, CEO of Malaysian Investment Development Authority.
At the official launch of NEXTDC’s Malaysian operations, Yang Berhormat Tuan Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzil, Malaysia’s Minister of Communications and Digital, proudly stated that Malaysia is recognised as the premier destination for data centre investment in Southeast Asia. He said, “Our strategic location, stable political environment, and robust digital infrastructure have solidified our position. With NEXTDC’s investment in Malaysia, we take a significant stride towards establishing our nation as the definitive digital hub of ASEAN.”
Fuelled by the Malaysia Digital national strategic initiative, Malaysia is elevating its digital capabilities and value proposition, attracting substantial digital investments and propelling the digital economy forward. The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) stands shoulder-to-shoulder with NEXTDC, pledging full support for its presence and the growth of the data centre industry through various PEMANGKIN initiatives. NEXTDC’s unveiling of the new data centre campus not only fortifies Malaysia’s digital infrastructure but also accelerates the ongoing digital transformation, showcasing unwavering confidence in Malaysia’s robust and empowering data centre ecosystem, digitally skilled talent pool, and world-class infrastructure.
Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Amirudin Bin Shari, Chief Minister of Selangor, who was also there, emphasised the state government’s unwavering commitment to facilitating investment in Selangor. Recognising NEXTDC as a high-impact investor, Selangor is dedicated to streamlining business processes and improving the ease of doing business. By nurturing a thriving business environment, Selangor aims to enhance the quality of life for its residents and collaborate closely with the business community to achieve this shared goal.
The Australian Government wholeheartedly supports NEXTDC’s ground-breaking initiative, fortifying the already deep political, social, and economic ties between Australia and Malaysia. The Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, His Excellency Dr Justin Lee, lauds NEXTDC’s RM3 billion investment as a testament to the close and growing economic partnership between the two nations. Digital economy cooperation remains a top priority under the Australia-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and NEXTDC’s entry into Malaysia and the broader Asian market represents a significant milestone. By investing in critical infrastructure and skills, NEXTDC bolsters Malaysia’s digital economy ambitions while attracting major tech companies.
The grand launch event, held at the esteemed Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, saw the CEO of NEXTDC, Craig Scroggie, express his enthusiasm for the KL1 data centre’s development and the establishment of the new Regional Operations Centre. Craig was quoted saying, “The development of the KL1 data centre, and the establishment of our new Regional Operations Centre are exciting new frontiers for NEXTDC in Asia, and we are delighted to be making these investments in the Malaysian digital economy. The new KL1 facility will feature world-leading sustainability benchmarks and critical infrastructure standards. This special occasion marks the initiation of NEXTDC’s regional expansion throughout Asia, and we are excited about the contribution these strategic investments will make to shaping the future of digital infrastructure and creating a wealth of technology job opportunities in Malaysia and beyond.”
These momentous steps mark NEXTDC’s foray into Asia, and the company is delighted to make these strategic investments in the Malaysian digital economy. The KL1 facility, embodying world-leading sustainability benchmarks and critical infrastructure standards, promises to shape the future of digital infrastructure and unlock a wealth of technology job opportunities in Malaysia and beyond.
