AirTrunk announces second data centre in Johor

Source: AirTrunk. The JHB2 announcement was made by AirTrunk’s Founder and CEO, Robin Khuda with the Menteri Besar of Johor, YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz Ghazi. Second from left: Tn Hj Natazha bin Hariss, CEO, Invest Johor; third from left: Yang Berhormat Dato’ Haji Mohd Noorazam bin Dato’ Haji Osman, CEO, IRDA; fifth from left: Pei Jet Lim, Country Head, Malaysia, AirTrunk; sixth from left: Khuda. Sixth from right: YAB Dato' Onn Hafiz Ghazi; fourth from right: YB Lee Ting Han, Johor State Exco Member.

Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ) hyperscale data centre specialist AirTrunk has announced plans to develop its second cloud and AI-ready data centre in Malaysia, AirTrunk JHB2. 

JHB2 is located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor region. Scalable to over 270 megawatts (MW), JHB2 will support demand from global public cloud and technology companies in the region. It is AirTrunk’s 12th data centre in the Asia Pacific and Japan region, and adds to its hyperscale data centre platform, which now offers nearly 1.8 gigawatts (GW) of total capacity. 

JHB2, strategically located in a major availability zone, provides an end-to-end cross border connectivity strategy for customers and the ability to scale their operations to match demand. The additional capacity will support Malaysia’s fast-growing digital economy and follows the establishment of the landmark Johor-Singapore special economic zone (JS-SEZ).

The news follows the opening of AirTrunk’s first data centre in Johor, the 150+ MW AirTrunk JHB1, in July 2024. AirTrunk is investing over RM 9.7 billion in Malaysia, providing more than 420 MW of capacity.

AirTrunk has data centres in five Asia Pacific and Japan APJ markets – Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. 

Like JHB1, the new data centre will feature AirTrunk’s liquid cooling technology for managing the high-density demands of AI and will ensure significant energy savings. JHB2 is designed to be efficient and secure, with a PUE (power usage effectiveness) of 1.25* and multiple renewable energy options available to customers. To support Johor State Government’s aim to diversify water sources, AirTrunk is scoping treated greywater as a recycled sustainable water supply for its campuses’ operations.

Advancing towards its Net Zero 2030 target, AirTrunk recently announced one of the largest
onsite solar deployments for a data centre in Southeast Asia at JHB1, as well as the first renewable energy virtual power purchase agreement for a data centre for 30 MW of renewable energy, under Malaysia’s Corporate Green Power Programme.

AirTrunk is also working with Malaysian utility company, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to connect JHB2 through TNB’s Green Lane Pathway for Data Centres initiative, streamlining high-voltage electricity supply to an accelerated timeframe of 12 months. 

AirTrunk is further providing land for TNB to build a new substation, adding resilience to the electricity distribution system in the area. This continuing collaboration, which started from an memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2023, opens the door for AirTrunk to explore green solutions with TNB in efforts to advance the energy transition in the region. 

In addition, AirTrunk shared that it is creating jobs for Malaysians, with above-market rate remuneration for employees, 90% local employees and career development opportunities. Beyond this, AirTrunk is contributing to digital literacy programmes and funding STEM education scholarships at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to further support the local community over the long term.

AirTrunk Founder & CEO Robin Khuda said: “As Malaysia establishes itself as a digital powerhouse, it is a privilege for AirTrunk to contribute to this growth over the long term and deliver shared benefit for the people of Malaysia. AirTrunk’s data centres serve as essential infrastructure that will help boost productivity and enable new products and services that can drive economic growth.

“We are committed to helping realise the potential of cloud and AI in Malaysia and prioritising circularity for the benefit of society and the environment. AirTrunk is supporting local digital literacy and STEM initiatives, driving the energy transition and working to embed a sustainable water supply to make a positive impact.”

AirTrunk Country Head, Malaysia, Pei Jet Lim said: “AirTrunk’s new JHB2 data centre campus confirms the importance of Malaysia to AirTrunk. Combining long-term investment with high-value local employment, training and social impact initiatives is central to our approach. As with JHB1, we have also continued to pioneer sustainable practices with JHB2, in line with our commitment to achieving net zero by 2030.”

The Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Johor YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz Ghazi, said: “We welcome the announcement from AirTrunk of further investment as well as social and environmental initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to being a responsible and positive contributor in Johor.

“Ensuring high value employment and training opportunities, like those offered by AirTrunk, alongside the economic contribution of digital infrastructure also ensures a positive legacy for Johor. This will surely help in achieving the vision of Maju Johor by 2030.”

Under YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz Ghazi's leadership, the state government strategy for Johor was launched under the theme Maju Johor 2023. Maju Johor Vision 2030 has six strategic pillars: good governance, sustainable economic development, enhancing the social safety net, improving facilities and basic amenities, security, cleanliness and the environment as well as a special focus on youth.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

*The lower the PUE figure, the better.