Aolani, a Singapore-founded AI cloud provider, has signed a strategic compute collaboration with NVIDIA that will expand AI factory infrastructure across Southeast Asia, bringing the company's total capacity to more than 100 megawatts. The deal, described as a first of its scale for a Southeast Asian-founded company, will see 22,000 GPUs deployed across two AI factories in Malaysia and the Philippines in early 2027, raising Aolani's total deployment to over 48,000 GPUs. The collaboration matters because it signals a shift in the global AI compute landscape, where Southeast Asia is no longer just a consumer of AI technology but an emerging producer of the infrastructure that powers it.
By combining Aolani's capabilities with NVIDIA's technology, the partnership aims to unlock financing that will accelerate and democratise access to AI compute for global AI natives, sovereigns, and local enterprises and SMEs. A revenue-sharing and credit-support model will align infrastructure deployment with customer demand, helping broaden access to large-scale accelerated computing while giving Aolani a capital-efficient path to scale. As an NVIDIA Cloud Partner since 2023, Aolani will deploy NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs, a leading AI system designed to help organisations build and scale advanced AI workloads today.
The implications for Southeast Asia's digital economy are profound. The region is one of the most robust AI markets in the world, with AI adoption rates among companies demonstrating stronger momentum than the global average, according to McKinsey & Company. More than US$50 billion has been invested by global hyperscalers in AI-ready data centres and cloud infrastructure, as noted by the Singapore Economic Development Board, underscoring the region's growth as a global arena for cloud and AI innovation.
While Malaysia has established itself as one of Asia's premier AI factory hubs, the Philippines represents a high-potential emerging market for AI infrastructure. Aolani's deployment in the Philippines is expected to be among the first large-scale AI infrastructure platforms in the country, broadening access to advanced AI compute and supporting the buildout of essential AI infrastructure in Asia. This could catalyse local AI innovation, attract further investment, and create high-skilled jobs.
Nicholas Chia, Chief Executive Officer at Aolani, said: "This collaboration with NVIDIA marks a defining moment in Aolani's mission to deliver world-class AI compute at the speed that matches the pace of AI development, and on infrastructure that is compliant, accountable, and trusted to perform. Southeast Asia is rapidly emerging as a key global node for the next wave of global AI buildout, and we are well-positioned to lead this. We are excited to work with new partners and customers to build the Southeast Asian AI ecosystem and cement the region's central role in the global AI landscape."
The collaboration not only enhances Aolani's position as a leading AI cloud provider but also strengthens Southeast Asia's profile in the global AI ecosystem. By democratising access to AI compute, it empowers startups, enterprises, and institutions to innovate faster, potentially unlocking new economic opportunities and solving regional challenges. As global demand for AI compute continues to surge, this partnership positions Southeast Asia as a critical node in the worldwide AI infrastructure network, with far-reaching implications for technological sovereignty and economic competitiveness.
