Nvidia-backed Firmus secures OpenAI deal for Malaysia data centre

Firmus, a data centre operator backed by chipmaker Nvidia, has entered into an agreement with OpenAI to provide computing capacity at its Malaysian facility. The deal underscores growing demand for AI infrastructure across Southeast Asia as major technology companies expand their regional footprint.

The partnership represents a significant win for Firmus in establishing itself as a key provider of specialised computing resources for large language model operations. Malaysia has emerged as an attractive location for data centre investments due to its competitive power costs and strategic positioning within Southeast Asia.

The agreement comes as Firmus builds momentum ahead of its anticipated initial public offering scheduled for 2026. The company has been positioning itself as a critical infrastructure player in the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem, leveraging its Nvidia backing to secure high-profile client partnerships.

OpenAI's decision to utilise Malaysian capacity reflects broader industry trends of distributing AI computing infrastructure across multiple geographic locations to improve service resilience and reduce latency for regional users. The development is likely to attract further investments in Southeast Asian data centre capabilities from other technology firms pursuing similar expansion strategies.