Hyperscale data centre specialist AirTrunk has announced plans to develop its second cloud and AI-ready data centre in Malaysia, named AirTrunk JHB2 (JHB2), 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.
The JHB2 announcement was made by AirTrunk’s Founder and CEO, Robin Khuda with the Johor Chief Minister, Onn Hafiz Ghazi, and follows the opening of AirTrunk’s first data centre in Johor, 150+MW AirTrunk JHB1, in July 2024. Combined, AirTrunk is investing over AUD3.5 billion in Malaysia, providing more than 420MW of IT load.
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.
Like JHB1, the new data centre will feature AirTrunk’s state-of-the-art liquid cooling technology for managing the high-density demands of AI and will ensure significant energy savings. JHB2 is designed to meet the highest standards of efficiency and security, with a low design 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 our campuses’ operations.
Aligned with the Malaysian Government’s focus on national technical and vocational education and training and increasing opportunities for highly skilled workers, AirTrunk is creating jobs for Malaysians, with above-market rate remuneration for AirTrunk employees, 90% local employees and career development opportunities. AirTrunk is also contributing to digital literacy programs and funding STEM education scholarships at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysiato further support the local community over the long term.
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 30MW of renewable energy under Malaysia’s Corporate Green Power Programme.
AirTrunk is working with the leading Malaysian utility company, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, to connect JHB2 through its green lane pathway for data centres initiative, streamlining high-voltage electricity supply to an accelerated timeframe of 12 months. AirTrunk is also providing land for Tenaga to build a new substation, adding resilience to the electricity distribution system in the area. This continuing collaboration, which started from an MoU signed in 2023, opens the door for AirTrunk to explore green solutions with Tenaga in efforts to advance the energy transition in the region.
“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,” said Khuda. “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.”
“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,” said Ghazi. “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.”
JHB2 is AirTrunk’s 12th data centre across five Asia Pacific markets – Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore – and adds to its hyperscale data centre platform which now offers nearly 1.8 gigawatts of total capacity.
