Pranav Hotkar
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September 2, 2025- Nokia has signed a major deal with Malaysian internet provider Extreme Broadband (EBB) and its data center arm Open DC to modernize six of the country’s AI data centers. The project is aimed at boosting security, improving network performance, and making the facilities more energy efficient, while also helping Malaysia strengthen its position as a regional hub for digital services.
The upgrade will cover Open DC’s key sites in Cyberjaya, Johor Bahru, Penang, and a new location in Kedah. Together, these facilities form one of Malaysia’s largest data center networks, serving sectors that demand high levels of reliability, including banking and finance.
With the rise of AI applications and cloud computing, the partnership comes at a time when Malaysia is pushing to expand its digital economy under national programs such as MYDIGITAL and the National Cloud Computing Policy.
Under the contract, Nokia will provide advanced networking solutions that connect and secure all six data centers. This includes its data center gateway and fabric technology, as well as quantum-safe networks designed to protect against future cyber threats. Nokia is also supplying its 7250 and 7220 routers, which are designed to save energy while handling massive data traffic.
In addition, the facilities will be equipped with automated network management tools and protection against distributed denial-of-service attacks, which are among the most common cyber risks facing large data infrastructures today.
Alongside the contract, Nokia and EBB have also signed an MoU to go beyond this project and explore new services together. This includes joint work on enterprise connectivity, multi-cloud integration, and stronger cyber defenses.
The two companies plan to develop a shared go-to-market strategy that will not only serve their existing customers but also attract new demand from enterprises and government projects that rely on high-performance digital infrastructure.
Speaking about the partnership, Open DC’s Managing Director Wong Weng Yew said,
“This collaboration underscores our commitment to pioneering technologies that deliver exceptional value to our customers and contribute to Malaysia’s economic growth under the MYDIGITAL policy. Nokia’s solutions will enhance our security, scalability, and sustainability, enabling us to build connectivity hubs that support AI-driven innovation and create new revenue opportunities for enterprises.”
For Nokia, this deal adds to its growing list of projects in Malaysia’s data center and telecom sector. Earlier this year, the company worked with Maxis to modernize parts of its data center operations, a sign that global technology providers see Malaysia as a fast-growing digital market.
By combining EBB’s local network expertise with Nokia’s technology, the modernization of Open DC’s sites is expected to deliver more secure, reliable, and scalable services.
For Malaysia, it represents another step in building the kind of infrastructure needed to support artificial intelligence, financial services, and the wider digital economy in the years ahead.
