TM and Nxera, the regional data centre arm of Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, held a groundbreaking ceremony for their data centre campus in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. The groundbreaking comes one month after the announcement for a joint venture to develop data centres in Malaysia and uplift Johor’s digital hub status.

This 64MW state-of-the-art, sustainable, hyper-connected, AI-ready data centre campus reinforces Malaysia’s high quality digital infrastructure. It also supports the government's efforts to drive the digital economy and transform the country into a hub for industrial growth, AI development and innovation.

Malaysia's Digital Minister YB Gobind Singh Deo; YB Lee Ting Han, Chairman, Johor State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee; and Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling graced the groundbreaking event as the Guests-of-Honour.

Minister YB Gobind said, "This investment by TM and Nxera reinforces Malaysia's position as the digital hub in Southeast Asia, further advancing the nation's economic growth. Based on advance estimates, Malaysia's economy expanded 5.8% in the second quarter of 2024, and such investments are in line with projections that Malaysia's digital economy will contribute 25.5% to the nation's GDP by the end of the year. The relationship between TM and Nxera expands to Malaysia and Singapore, with both nations being a good case study of a productive working partnership between two ASEAN member states."

YAB Dato Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Menteri Besar, Johor said, “TM-Nxera’s upcoming data centre campus, located right here in Iskandar Puteri, holds particular significance as one of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone’s first investment projects. We welcome the comprehensive scope of their investment with respect to high quality infrastructure, sustainability as well as employment and skilling opportunities which supports our emphasis on talent development, green technology and renewable energy. This data centre campus will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and enable businesses to harness the power of cloud computing and AI. We hope this will set the stage to shape a vibrant business ecosystem where more high-tech and high-value content companies will be attracted to locate their operations within the special economic zone and give a further boost to Johor’s digital economy.”

Senior Minister of State Low said, “Data centres are important enablers of our digital economy, powering our economy’s data-driven needs. As technology advances, robust, next-generation digital infrastructure like the TM-Nxera Data Centre will be essential to support AI advancements and foster value creation. Today’s groundbreaking marks a milestone in the deepening economic relations between Singapore and Malaysia, and I look forward to the outcomes we can achieve through close collaboration.”

Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group CEO, said, “Today marks a pivotal milestone in our journey to becoming a digital powerhouse as we break ground on this cutting-edge AI-ready data centre. This facility exemplifies our commitment to fostering industry growth, driving innovation, and enhancing socio-economic development. With support from the Federal Government, and Johor state agencies and authorities, we are confident that this AI-ready data centre will equip businesses with unparalleled computing power, AI capabilities, and other cutting-edge technologies. We are excited to lead the way into a future where AI and data analytics drive transformative solutions, revolutionising industries and enriching both our nation and the world.”

Bill Chang, CEO of Nxera and Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, said, “As one of the largest investments in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, this state-of-the-art data centre campus is an integral part of our mission to empower digital economies and communities in the region while ensuring energy and water resources are deployed responsibly and efficiently.  It expands our regional data centre platform’s strategic presence in this fast-growing Asia region. With Malaysia embracing AI to drive competitiveness and innovation, our campus will spur economic growth by helping companies leverage AIs and cloud computing to drive efficiencies and accelerate their business transformation. Our investment isn’t just about the campus, it is about bringing benefits to the local economy through digitalisation, developing local talent, creating employment opportunities and enhancing international connectivity. We would like to express our gratitude to the Johor State Executive Council, Invest Johor, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and Malaysian Investment Development Authority for their support.”

Scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2026, this cloud-enabled Tier 3 data centre campus will use liquid cooling to handle higher power density AI workloads. The facility will be designed, built and certified to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, incorporating energy and water-efficient solutions to optimise the use of resources. This underscores the joint venture's commitment to long-term sustainability goals. To support the new data centre campus, the joint venture plans to expand submarine cable connectivity, enabling a thriving and vibrant digital ecosystem. 

Located just 16 km from Singapore, the data centre campus will allow customers to seamlessly expand their infrastructure from the city state and the rest of the region. Further, the data centre can be scaled up to 200MW in response to market demand.

In addition, apart from creation of new employment opportunities that is important for nation building, the joint venture will invest in building talent for the data centre industry by fostering collaborations between universities in Singapore and Malaysia. It aims to design comprehensive courses with specialised curriculum to provide students with well-rounded knowledge and the requisite skills to propel Malaysia’s growth aspirations. For communities and the region, this means superior country-to-country connectivity and a smarter, more resilient digital economy.

As announced in Bursa, this joint venture is conditional upon receiving approval from TM shareholders in the upcoming EGM.

TM Global recently participated in the 2024 Johor Interconnect Word Forum, held in Johor Bahru, which brought together more than 350 leading Telcos, Internet Service Providers, Internet Exchanges, Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) Investors, and Government Agencies. This event provided an exceptional platform for TM Global to engage in meaningful discussions and foster relationships with industry players.

Baharul Nizam Said Daliman, our Vice President of International Sales, participated in the panel discussion titled “Can Malaysia do better to be the next Connectivity and Data Center Hub?”. In his remarks, Nizam discussed the challenges faced in meeting the surging demand from hyperscalers, highlighted the significant opportunities arising from Johor’s collaboration with Singapore and reaffirmed TM Global’s commitment to this growth through strategic investments in submarine cable systems as well as cable landing stations in Morib and Kuala Sedili.

TM Global’s Head of Data Centre, Mahathir Said, shared his valuable insights during the discussion on "Transforming and Adapting Telecom and Data Centers into the AI and Digital Age". He emphasised the technical capabilities of data centres to support AI requirements and the factors fueling substantial investor interest in Johor for new data centre developments. The recent announcement on TM's new hyperconnected AI-ready data centre in collaboration with Singtel made the panel highly engaging and sparked interest among attendees.

This is the second year TM Global has participated in the Johor Interconnect World Forum. We will continue to engage in various industry forums to drive sustainable growth and establish Malaysia as the regional digital hub. 

The Content Delivery industry is undergoing a transformative shift with the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionise various aspects, from network management to customer service and fraud detection. However, realising the full potential of AI in the Content Delivery industry heavily relies on reducing latency. Latency, the delay in data transfer, poses a challenge, especially in traditional cloud computing models centralised in remote data centres. The impact on profits is substantial: In fact, even a slight delay of 100 milliseconds in loading times can reduce conversion rates by 1%. This is where edge facilities can play a role in alleviating the issue.

In this landscape, the synergy between AI and edge computing becomes crucial. By leveraging edge computing, content service provider can further enhance content delivery optimisation by enabling real-time analysis and decision-making with AI, thus improving customer experiences and fraud detection. This investment paves the way for industry advancements, delivering innovative services and experiences in the digital era.

The Edge Advantage: Overcoming Latency Challenges

Edge facilities are strategically located closer to the network's edge, where data is generated. By processing, storing, and analysing data locally, edge facilities significantly reduce latency, enabling real-time AI workloads. This translates to faster decision-making and a wide range of benefits for telco businesses, including:

• Enhanced Network Performance: AI algorithms running on edge can analyse network traffic in real-time, identifying congestion and potential bottlenecks. This allows for proactive network management, optimising resource allocation and ensuring smooth network operation.
• Improved Customer Experience: With edge computing, AI can personalise customer service experiences in real-time. Chatbots can provide faster and more accurate support, while AI-powered recommendation engines can offer tailored service packages and promotions.
• Real-Time Fraud Detection: Fraudulent activity can be costly for any businesses. Edge computing empowers AI to analyse customer transactions at the network edge, enabling immediate fraud detection and prevention, safeguarding revenue and protecting customers.

The Synergy Between AI, Edge Computing, and Digital Infra Provider

Digital Infra Provider possess a unique advantage in this evolving landscape. The existing infrastructure, extensive network reach, and expertise in data management makes Digital Infra Provider ideally suited to leverage the power of edge computing and AI. Here's how this synergy unfolds:

• Edge Powered Network: Digital Infra Provider already have a vast network of cellular towers and base stations across their regions. These locations can be harnessed to strategically deploy edge facilities, bringing processing power closer to the source of data generated by mobile devices and network equipment.
• Security and Data Privacy: Digital Infra Provider have established expertise in data security and management. This knowledge plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe, compliant storage and processing of data used for AI applications, addressing critical privacy concerns.
• Low-Latency Connectivity: The rollout of 5G networks, with their exceptional speed and reliability, provides the Content Service Provider with the high-bandwidth and low-latency connectivity have revolutionise seamless data flow between devices, edge facilities, and the cloud, further optimising AI applications.

Content Service Provider must choose the right Digital Infra partner to thrive and optimise the opportunities ahead. As a trusted and established global partner, TM Global offer uninterrupted global connectivity with a strong ASEAN presence. Our award winning TM Edge Facilities offers 5G regional POI, TMiX, edge computing, and connectivity solutions. #RunsOnTMGlobal today and take your business to the next level with TM Edge Facilities! Check out TM Edge Facilities features and offerings here: https://info.tm.com.my/TM_Edge/Edge-facilities-Solution-brief

TM Global, the wholesale business arm of TM - Malaysia’s telecommunications leader - bagged the Best Operator in the Emerging Market award category at the prestigious Carrier Community Global Awards (CCGA) 2024. This accolade acknowledges TM Global’s dedication to delivering services in developing regions, emphasising its positive contributions to connectivity and economic growth.

Khairul Liza Ibrahim, Executive Vice President of TM Global, said, “This award reinforces our commitment to advancing network infrastructure development and catalysing greater innovation. We have made significant endeavours, including strategic investments in regional subsea cable systems such as Sea-Me-We 6 and the Asia Link Cable System, which enhances global connectivity between ASEAN, Europe and North Asia.

“In Malaysia, we are the largest 5G backhaul network infrastructure provider, significantly contributing to the country’s 5G network coverage. We have also established the most extensive Edge Network Facilities throughout Malaysia, bringing content closer to local communities and businesses. These efforts align with TM’s aspiration to become a Digital Powerhouse by 2030 while positioning Malaysia as a digital hub for the region,” she explained.

TM Global serves as the strategic gateway for global carriers, enterprises, hyperscalers, OTTs, and next-generation AI application providers into Malaysia and the ASEAN region. Utilising its expansive network infrastructure, TM Global delivers services such as Multi-Edge Computing and Content Delivery, strengthening its position as a key enabler of digital transformation and global connectivity.

The CCGA is a distinguished event that recognises the achievements and innovations of telecom wholesale operators and ecosystem partners worldwide and are independently judged by a panel of telecom analysts and experts from the industry.

TM is partnering Nxera, the regional data centre arm of Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, in a joint venture to develop data centres in Malaysia starting with a sustainable, hyper-connected AI-ready data centre campus in Johor. This strategic partnership aims to serve the needs of hyperscalers, next-generation AI application providers and enterprises pursuing accelerated digitalisation and cloud in the region. The joint venture is a unique proposition, bolstered by the extensive subsea cable networks of TM and Singtel’s Digital InfraCo which provide global connectivity and enhanced network performance with lower latency and improved reliability. 

Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group Chief Executive Officer, said, "Establishing a hyper-connected AI-ready data centre marks the next phase in our long-standing partnership with Singtel, leveraging our strengths and commitment to elevate ASEAN as the preferred digital hub destination. TM brings the largest domestic network infrastructure, extensive international subsea cable systems and the largest interconnected DC in Malaysia, a solid backbone for this project. This will serve as a catalyst for high performance computing and lay a solid foundation for the future advancement of cloud and AI applications. This collaboration of two main telcos in the region is unique and has positive impact to the development of digital ecosystem that not only benefit the businesses but also nurturing future talent. Through this partnership, TM continues to demonstrate its dedication to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions, marking a pivotal step in our aspiration to becoming a Digital Powerhouse by 2030.” 

Bill Chang, CEO of Nxera and Singtel's Digital InfraCo unit, said, "We are excited to enter the Malaysian market with TM as our strategic partner. This collaboration advances our vision to be the region’s leading sustainable, hyperconnected AI-ready data centre platform, supporting businesses with the digital infrastructure needed for the growing demand for cloud, digitalisation and AI. The development of this first data centre campus in Johor, which can be expanded in phases, demonstrates our ability to scale quickly in markets that are important to our customers. With our joint industry expertise and strong track record, we will build and operate one of the most efficient, sustainable and connectivity-rich data centres in Malaysia. In addition to data centres, we will be expanding the submarine cable connectivity between Singapore and Johor to enhance digital connectivity. Our joint venture will also partner institutes of higher learning in Malaysia to nurture talent for our projects and the industry. Our strategy of developing data centre sites with close proximity to our operations in Singapore allow us to capture spill-over demand from our customers and help them scale their business with confidence.”   

Located in Iskandar Puteri, just 16 km from Singapore, the data centre campus will be the largest to date for both TM and Nxera. It will be built to the latest standards for reliability, security and sustainability while offering the best local and international connectivity. With its close proximity to subsea cable links between Singapore and Malaysia, the data centre will be well-placed to support the increasing demand from both countries’ digitalisation and development initiatives. 

The initial phase of the data centre is planned for 64MW and can be scaled up to 200MW in response to market demand. This high-power density campus will be able to host large computing and AI capabilities such as requirements by cloud hyperscalers, GPU-as-a-Service providers and features advanced technologies such as liquid cooling to support high-power density workloads and operations efficiently. The data centre will be a LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building, emphasising its commitment to greater energy efficiency and sustainable practices.

As Malaysia’s integrated telco and technology leader, TM will contribute its expertise in the region’s network infrastructure deployment to deliver customised range of wholesale data, connectivity, data centre and platform solutions catering to both local and international needs. Additionally, TM also provides Cloud services via its sovereign Cloud Alpha Edge solution.

TM currently operates seven data centres across Malaysia with 2 core data centres located in Klang Valley and Johor. Its entry into the Asia Link Cable Systems (ALC) partnership facilitates the laying of a submarine cable system spanning approximately 7,200km, with an initial design capacity of 24 Terabits/sec. Coupled with the establishment of an international Cable Landing Station at TM Exchange Kuala Sedili, Johor, these serve as vital infrastructure enhancements to accelerate the growth of the data centre industry in the state.

Nxera is a rapidly growing regional platform backed by Singtel and leading global investment firm KKR, leveraging its data centre operations in Singapore to expand overseas. Customers can also tap into a host of services such as Singtel’s Paragon cloud orchestration platform and upcoming GPU-as-a-Service. They will be able to orchestrate their AI workloads in a multi-network and multi-cloud environment, serving as a catalyst for greater innovation, entrepreneurship and business excellence.

Nxera is developing three new AI-ready data centres in the region in addition to 62MW of existing capacity in Singapore. This includes a new 58MW data centre in Tuas, Singapore and data centres with partners in Indonesia and Thailand. Nxera’s total pipeline capacity is set to increase from its current operational capacity of 62MW in Singapore to more than 200MW in the region in the next three years. The data centres will be served by Digital InfraCo's comprehensive network of subsea fibre-optic cables which provide customers with the best country-to-country connectivity in the Asia Pacific region.
 

We are excited to announce that our Klang Valley Data Centre (KVDC) has achieved the Tier III Certification of Constructed Facility (TCCF) from the Uptime Institute. This significant milestone marks our commitment to unparalleled reliability and excellence in data centre services. With the completion of Block 1 fit out, KVDC, which is now a part of TM Global, is designed with  state of the art critical infrastructure redundancies, ensuring that businesses' critical data remains protected and accessible 24/7. We are proud to celebrate this achievement as our General Manager of Data Centre Strategy and Product, Mohd Radzy Ab Rahim, received the prestigious plaque from Patrick Chan, Vice President of Uptime Institute's Asia region. 

Discover more about TM Data Centre's cutting-edge solutions: https://tmglobal.com.my/products-and-solutions/hosting/data-centre

TM Global made a significant impact at International Telecoms Week (ITW) 2024, held in Maryland from May 14-17. The event provided an excellent platform for TM Global to engage with existing partners and prospective clients, reinforcing its position as a leading player in the telecommunications industry.

The main highlight was Vice President, Baharul Nizam’s participation in a panel discussion on May 15. He contributed his expertise to the topic "Are Connectivity Requirements for New Scale Compute Campuses Being Met?", offering valuable insights into the evolving connectivity needs of large-scale computing environments.

Building on the engagements during ITW, TM Global announced its latest expansion efforts in the U.S and shared the company's ongoing initiatives to enhance U.S. business connectivity to the Southeast Asian market.

Hafiz Lockman, Country Director for TM U.S., also engaged with telecom media at the event, sharing exciting insights about TM Global's expansion and future plans.

TM Global made a significant appearance at this year's ITW, further enhancing its commitment to bridging markets and enhancing global connectivity.

TM Global participated in the Datacentre and Cloud Infra Summit, 2024 held in Kuala Lumpur from 14 – 15 May 2024. The event, which gathered more than 500 data centre and cloud professionals as well as public and private organisations provided an excellent opportunity for TM Global to cultivate relationships with prospective clients and existing partners.

During the event, TM Global promoted key products such as Data Centre, Edge Facilities and Edge Solutions to potential customers. One of the highlights was the Head of the Data Centre, Mahathir Said's participation in a panel discussion on 14 May 2024. He contributed his expertise to the topic "Roadmap for Transforming Malaysia into an Emerging Digital Infrastructure Hub", offering valuable insights into TM Global's initiatives to position Malaysia as ASEAN's digital hub and our commitment to bridging the digital divide.

Commenting on TM Global's participation, Khairul Liza Ibrahim, Executive Vice President of TM Global, said, "Our presence at the DCCI Summit is geared towards sharing insights on market trends and case studies, showcasing our robust digital infrastructure capabilities, which includes the most interconnected Data Centres that can enable future-proof AI-related deployment in both domestic and international landscape. This initiative underscores our commitment to bolstering Malaysia's position as the Digital Hub for the ASEAN region, an aspiration that TM as a Group is committed to as it strives to become a Digital Powerhouse by 2030."

TM Global participation in this summit, strengthened its position as the leading digital enabler and trusted infrastructure provider in the region.

As Malaysia's leading integrated telco and digital technology company, Telekom Malaysia (TM) excels at delivering carrier solutions via TM Global, its wholesale domestic and international business arm, which has access to a vast fibre cable network, submarine cable systems, international gateways, content delivery networks, data hosting services, and regional offices around the world.

TM Global reported a remarkable 5% revenue increase to RM808.6m in Q3 of 2023, compared to the previous year.

Several notable collaborations in 2023 further strengthened its position as a catalyst of digital adoption across industries and the 5G ecosystem, such as the extension of a decade-long partnership High-Speed Broadband access collaboration with Malaysian access seekers, as well as the deployment of two additional International Internet Gateways in East Malaysia, which not only closes the digital divide but also drives digital opportunities for education, jobs, and entrepreneurship.

Despite the domestic market challenge on wholesale infrastructure, TM Global mitigated the risks through ongoing collaborations with industry players in promoting innovative new value-add broadband solutions to enhance the overall internet experience for the nation.

TM Global is also firmly established internationally as the gateway for businesses seeking to expand into ASEAN and vice versa, utilising its capabilities encompassing the 32 submarine cable system networks that it owns or leases, which spans over 340,000 kilometres worldwide and have over 80 Tbps capacity.

In this regard, the company has expanded its extensive inventory by participating in the Asia Link Cable consortium to build the new subsea cable to significantly increase data-transfer capacity of TM's existing submarine cable systems, meeting the region's escalating bandwidth demands across ASEAN and North Asia.

TM Global also remains committed to facilitating content distribution into Southeast Asia and beyond through TM Edge, and it has continued to broaden its business into platform services in 2023 to connect service providers worldwide with the growing ASEAN market.
Going into the future, TM Global wishes to elevate its position with innovative solutions and aspires to become a leading regional digital platform provider, whilst consistently exploring state-of-the-art applications to drive digital expansion locally and across the regions.
 
In recognition of its stellar performance in 2023, TM Global has been acknowledged by the Asian Telecom Awards 2024 as the recipient of the Telecom Company of the Year - Malaysia and the Wholesale Company Initiative of the Year - Malaysia category wins.

“With a string of distinguished awards under its belt, TM Global has solidified its position as the preeminent regional wholesale telco for its core connectivity capabilities as well as those that go beyond connectivity. Looking ahead, TM Global will continue to maintain its position as the leading wholesale telecom company aiming to revolutionise the region,” it said.

The prestigious awards programme honours businesses and initiatives that have not only driven progress in the telecom industry, but have also ignited transformative shifts that have reshaped the digital landscape.

This article was first published on Asian Telecom https://asiantelecom.com/event-news/telekom-malaysia-pioneers-future-adaptive-solutions-technological-innovations