OpenAI signs multi-year compute deal with Firmus in Malaysia

OpenAI signs multi-year compute deal with Firmus in Malaysia

Tue, September 8, 2026 at 5:03 PM GMT+3 2 min read

• NVDA -1.34%

OpenAI and Firmus announced a multi-year partnership on Tuesday under which OpenAI will receive dedicated AI computing capacity from two Firmus data center sites in Malaysia, the Australian infrastructure company said.

The deal makes OpenAI an anchor customer of Firmus and brings the company's total contracted capacity across all customers to more than 900 megawatts, the company said. The partnership also marks Firmus' expansion into Malaysia, extending its Asia-Pacific footprint beyond Australia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Firmus will deploy Nvidia's Vera Rubin processors at the Malaysian sites, using Nvidia's DSX AI Factory Platform integrated with Firmus' own HyperCube infrastructure system. The HyperCube combines liquid cooling, mechanical systems, and electrification into a prefabricated unit manufactured in regional New South Wales, the company said.

"We're excited to work with Firmus as we expand our global compute capacity. These new data centers in Malaysia will help us serve growing demand for OpenAI's products across the region and around the world," said Sachin Katti, VP of Compute Strategy at OpenAI, in a statement.

Firmus declined to disclose the financial terms of the contract, according to Reuters.

Firmus currently has two AI data centers in operation — located in Australia and Singapore — and is actively developing five more across the Asia-Pacific region, the company said. The firm said its full portfolio spans seven AI factories across four countries and that the five sites under development are targeted to be ready for service within the next 24 months.

Nvidia is among Firmus' financial backers, with Jane Street, Blackstone funds, and Coatue Management also holding stakes in the company, according to Reuters. The firm's most recent fundraising round put its valuation at more than $10.5 billion, Reuters reported.

The deal is part of a broader push by AI companies to lock in computing infrastructure. OpenAI's agreement with Firmus follows a pattern of large AI labs securing dedicated capacity from Nvidia-backed infrastructure providers. Anthropic, for instance, has signed agreements with Nvidia-backed infrastructure startups including Volta Infra Holdings, and has pursued a series of large computing arrangements as demand for its products has grown.

Alongside its OpenAI partnership, Firmus said it intends to establish an Australian AI Access Program to provide computing access to researchers and organizations working on applications in science, education, agriculture, energy efficiency, and climate resilience.