ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Breaks Ground for High-Performance Computing Data Centre Campus in Johor, Signs MOU for Talent Development

Johor, Malaysia, 24 February 2025 — ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), one of the world’s fastest-growing data centre providers, announced the groundbreaking of the first data centre facility in the STT Johor data centre campus – STT Johor 1. The ceremony was officiated by Y.A.B. Dato' Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Chief Minister of Johor, underscoring the state’s commitment to advancing digital infrastructure and sustainable economic growth.
 

STT GDC’s data centre campus is located within the Nusa Cemerlang Industrial Park in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, just 15 kilometres from Singapore. Spanning over 22 acres of land, the campus has a development potential of 120MW of IT load. Its prime location ensures seamless connectivity, including integration with STT Singapore 5, STT GDC’s regional interconnection hub. STT Johor 1 is the first facility to be built on campus, designed with an IT load capacity of 16MW, and is expected to be fully operational by end of 2026.
 

"The ground-breaking of STT Johor 1 is a powerful testament of the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 in action. More than just a hyperscale data centre, it is a launchpad for innovation, talent development, and sustainable economic growth. MIDA remains steadfast in facilitating high-impact investments that drive technological advancements while ensuring inclusive progress. We extend our heartfelt congratulation to STT GDC on this momentous occasion and look forward to supporting its continued expansion as we build a thriving digital ecosystem in Malaysia together”, said Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).

Executives of STT GDC and officials from the Johor government came together for the groundbreaking ceremony of STT Johor 1. (In photo: L-R) Mayor of Majlis Bandaraya Iskandar Puteri Tn Haji Ahmad Nazir bin Haji Mohd Nasir, Chairman of the Johor State Education and Information Committee YB Tuan Aznan bin Tamin, Chairman of the Johor State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs, and Human Resources Committee YB Tuan Lee Ting Han, Deputy President of the Dewan Negara YB Senator Datuk Nur Jazlan bin Tan Sri Mohamed, Chief Minister of Johor Y.A.B. Dato' Onn Hafiz Ghazi, President & Group Chief Executive Officer for STT GDC Bruno Lopez, Country Head for STT GDC Malaysia Darryll Sinnappa, Chief Executive Officer of Southeast Asia for STT GDC Lionel Yeo, Group Chief Financial Officer for STT GDC Nelson Lim.

The prime location ensures seamless connectivity, including integration with STT Singapore 5, STT GDC’s regional interconnection hub. From its launch, STT Johor 1 will be ready to support the growing demand for cloud and high-performance computing. The facility is equipped to handle advanced computational workloads for enterprises, government agencies, and cloud service providers, capable of rapidly deploying resource-intensive applications across various industries. This will support cutting-edge research, complex simulations and data-driven decision-making processes.
 

In addition to STT Singapore 5, STT Johor 1 will also be connected to STT Kuala Lumpur 1 and STT GDC’s other data centre interconnection hubs in Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines via a Data Centre Interconnect (DCI) service, providing customers in STT Johor 1 with highly reliable and seamless access to business opportunities in other major economies in the region.  
 

In alignment with Malaysia’s green ambitions, the STT Johor campus will be powered by renewable and low-carbon energy sources. STT GDC is in discussions with several renewable energy providers, such as Ditrolic Energy, to become the renewable electricity supplier for STT Johor 1's operations. This potential partnership underscores STT GDC's commitment to sustainable data centre practices and aligns with Malaysia's green energy goals. Clean energy solutions will play a crucial role in STT Johor 1's aim to achieve industry-leading energy efficiency and minimise its environmental footprint. STT GDC will also leverage advanced technologies to further optimise energy use, establishing the campus as a smart and sustainable data centre benchmark. 
 

STT GDC and the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC) also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to spearhead a comprehensive industry talent development initiative for the burgeoning data centre sector, aligning with the goals of the recently established Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). This partnership aims to create a robust pipeline of skilled professionals in sustainable data centre operations, positioning Johor as a hub for data centre expertise in Southeast Asia.
 

This alliance underscores STT GDC's commitment to nurturing a skilled local workforce and supports the JS-SEZ's goal of creating skilled job opportunities and strengthening the digital economy. By supporting the growth of Malaysia's data centre industry and ensuring a steady supply of qualified experts, this initiative contributes to broader Singapore-Johor economic cooperation. It also positions Johor as a Southeast Asian hub for data centre expertise, enhancing the region's ability to attract global investments.
 

“The STT Johor data centre campus marks a significant milestone for STT GDC in our efforts to deliver advanced digital infrastructure that can play a role in contributing to Malaysia’s ambitions to grow their digital economy leadership in the region. Equally important is our commitment to developing local talent through our partnership with JTDC, which will create a skilled workforce to support this growth. Guided by our principles of sustainability, innovation, connectivity and community development, we look forward to STT Johor 1 playing a pivotal role in delivering tangible economic growth to the region, sustainably, while nurturing the next generation of data centre professionals,” said Darryll Sinnappa, Country Head – Malaysia, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres.  
 

Malaysia’s data centre market continues to experience remarkable growth, with a development pipeline of 1.4GW planned over the next five years, representing 264% growth^[1]. This expansion is expected to drive the industry's revenue to RM3.6 billion by 2025^[2], solidifying Malaysia's position as a key player in the region's digital infrastructure landscape.

###