{
  "id": 19425275,
  "title": "SoftBank and Grab put US$1.85B down on a 5GW AI bet in Malaysia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/softbank-and-grab-put-us-1-85b-down-on-a-5gw-ai-bet-in-malaysia",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-11-11T01:00:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "e27",
    "slug": "e27",
    "url": "https://e27.co/softbank-and-grab-put-us1-85b-down-on-a-5gw-ai-bet-in-malaysia-20261110/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "SoftBank and Grab have collectively invested US$1.85 billion in a plan to develop AI data centers across Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. The capital comes from SoftBank Group's US$1 billion, Grab's US$750 million, and PETROS's US$100 million. The goal is to create five gigawatts or more of AI capacity, a significant undertaking given the high cost of building such infrastructure. The joint venture partners have yet to reach binding agreements, and investment terms will depend on finalizing those details, securing land, power, connectivity, and customers. SoftBank is the majority investor in Sarawak, while Grab leads in Peninsular Malaysia. The companies aim to serve various sectors, including governments, multinationals, and small businesses, through data center tenants. This is the first infrastructure deal of its kind in Malaysia, offering a unique business model that could have implications for the region's digital infrastructure landscape.",
  "summary": "Grab started life in Malaysia as a taxi-booking app. Fourteen years on, it is heading back to its birthplace with a far heavier load: AI data centres. SoftBank Group and Grab Holdings have signed joint development agreements with Petroleum Sarawak (PETROS), the Sarawak state oil and gas company, to build AI infrastructure across Sarawak and […] The post SoftBank and Grab put US$1.85B down on a…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
        "title": "Grab, SoftBank, Petros plan US$1.9 billion initial investment in Malaysia AI infrastructure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/grab-softbank-petros-plan-us-1-9-billion-initial-investment-in",
        "published": "2026-11-10T10:09:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}