SoftBank Group, Nasdaq-listed Grab Holdings, and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad signed a framework agreement this month to explore a phased AI and digital infrastructure platform in Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo.

The three companies said they will "collaborate to develop a roadmap" for the platform. In a joint statement, they added that the initiative will "support Sarawak's ambition to develop a high-value, technology-driven economy, while contributing to the expansion of Malaysia's digital infrastructure and connectivity."

What does the agreement cover?

Under the terms, the parties will examine opportunities across the broader AI value chain. Specifically, the work spans:

• AI compute and services
• Advanced technologies, including robotics
• Local workforce development
• Community development programs

Full technical specifications — site coordinates, power capacity in megawatts, cooling architecture, or build timeline — were not disclosed. The framework is non-binding at this stage.

Who are the partners?

Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) is a state-owned oil and gas firm wholly owned by the Government of Sarawak. Its involvement signals an energy-supply role for any future site. Power availability and grid stability remain decisive factors for hyperscale AI campuses, and Petros's participation addresses that requirement directly.

Grab Holdings was founded in 2012 in Kuala Lumpur as MyTeksi, listed on Nasdaq, and operates a super-app spanning ride-hailing, food delivery, and digital payments across Southeast Asia. The company is also a major AWS customer, giving it operational experience with hyperscale cloud environments. Grab's specific role within the consortium has not been formally detailed.

SoftBank Group, the Tokyo-listed investment conglomerate, anchors the AI ambitions of the partnership. SoftBank has previously backed AI infrastructure globally through holdings such as Arm Holdings and various Vision Fund investments.

Why Sarawak?

Sarawak is not yet established as a major Asia-Pacific data center hub. Its positioning centers on three factors:

1. Land availability for large campuses
2. Energy resources tied to the state's hydrocarbons sector
3. Geographic proximity to Singapore, a regional connectivity hub

Several developers have announced projects on the island in recent years. Poseidon Technologies unveiled a planned facility in October 2023. Aizo Group and Netrunner announced a Sarawak data center project in October 2024. FutureData has publicly targeted a 500MW development in the region.

The SoftBank-Grab-Petros framework does not cite a capacity figure. The phased roadmap approach, however, points to staged build-out tied to incremental compute demand rather than a single mega-campus.

What happens next?

The framework commits the parties to a planning phase. Industry precedent suggests a joint development agreement, site selection, and power purchase arrangements would follow before any construction begins.

No specific dates for the next milestone have been announced. The parties stated only that they will "collaborate to develop a roadmap," leaving the timeline open.