Business · Companies · 5 hrs ago
SoftBank, Grab plan $1.85 billion AI infrastructure in Malaysia
SoftBank Group, Grab and a Malaysian energy company plan $1.85 billion in AI infrastructure across Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
SoftBank will lead the work in Sarawak, where it plans to contribute $800 million, while Grab will lead development on the peninsula.
The partners aim to build AI computing capacity with power connections of more than five gigawatts, working with large cloud providers.
Malaysia wants to become a regional hub for AI and digital infrastructure, and SoftBank will contribute financing and design expertise.
The investment is intended to support growing demand for AI in Southeast Asia, where current per-person AI use is far below that in the United States.
The companies have agreed to develop the projects, and say they will also use project financing to raise funds.
SoftBank Group, Grab and a Malaysian energy company plan to invest a total of $1.85 billion in AI infrastructure in Malaysia.
The projects are planned for Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
SoftBank will invest $1 billion initially and lead the Sarawak project, contributing $800 million there.
Grab will lead development in Peninsular Malaysia, where the planned investment is $850 million.
The three companies aim to build AI computing capacity with more than 5 gigawatts of power capacity, working with large cloud providers and others.
- Who
- SoftBank Group, Grab and a Malaysian energy company.
- What
- They plan to develop AI infrastructure, with total planned investment of $1.85 billion.
- When
- Announced on Nov. 9, 2026.
- Where
- Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
- Why
- To build AI infrastructure and support Malaysia’s digital ambitions and AI innovation in Southeast Asia.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The three companies announced they were considering AI infrastructure development in Malaysia and signed a basic agreement.
SoftBank announced the planned investment and development with Grab and a Malaysian energy company.
- Total planned investment
- $1.85 billion
- SoftBank initial investment
- $1 billion
- Sarawak project investment
- $1 billion, including $800 million from SoftBank
- Peninsular Malaysia project investment
- $850 million, led by Grab
- Target power capacity
- More than 5 gigawatts
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We will build a foundation to realize Malaysia’s vision in the digital field and accelerate AI innovation throughout Southeast Asia.