MoF Inc subsidiary partners Open DC to develop a Tier-3 data centre in Bukit Kayu Hitam

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister of Finance Inc’s (MOF Inc) wholly-owned subsidiary, Northern Gateway Sdn Bhd (NGX), has partnered with Open DC to develop a Tier-3 data centre in Delapan Special Border Economic Zone.

In a statement today, MOF Inc said this economic zone would contribute to the development of internet infrastructure and the digital and industrial revolution that is intertwined with the local internet ecosystem, complementing both the state and federal digital development blueprint in terms of network infrastructure.

The interconnectivity hub will also provide local internet connections to businesses in the northern districts and a more convenient and accessible place for tech players.

The Delapan Special Border Economic Zone is a high-tech park at Bukit Kayu Hitam, the border town between Thailand and Malaysia.

MOF Inc said the trade between Malaysia and Thailand is expected to hit RM125 billion by 2025.

Of this amount, an estimated 45 per cent is passing through Bukit Kayu Hitam, the border town between Thailand and Malaysia.

The development of Open DC’s data centre in the economic zone will further enhance the trading volume by developing cross-border internet traffic.

Open DC founder and managing director Wong Weng Yew said the technology hub would complement the development of Delapan as a vibrant business hub in the north, allowing tech players to develop business hosting with better connectivity through Open DC’s data centre.

“We aim to improve the internet development at the northern border, to emulate the existing neighbouring Internet Exchange (IX) via the Malaysia-Singapore border.

“Given the sheer volume of Internet traffic exchanged between Indo-China through this location, the hub will also be developed as a strategic area to become the new commercial hub and a data centre in the north,” he said.

As part of the strategic partnership, the hub will be completed by 2024.

It will open doors for potential collaborations with other regional tech players and private sectors in the industry to further enhance the nation’s Internet infrastructure and a step forward in Malaysia’s Internet infrastructure by establishing an interconnectivity hub along the northern borders for better Internet performance. – New Straits Times