OpenAI has signed a multi-year agreement with Australian AI infrastructure company Firmus to secure computing capacity from two data centres in Malaysia. The deal makes OpenAI an anchor customer for Firmus as competition for data centre capacity and power intensifies alongside the rapid expansion of advanced AI models.
OpenAI has signed a multi-year agreement with Australian AI infrastructure company Firmus to secure computing capacity from two data centres in Malaysia, making the ChatGPT maker an anchor customer as demand for infrastructure capable of running advanced artificial intelligence models accelerates.
Firmus, which is backed by Nvidia, said on Tuesday that the agreement increased its contracted capacity across customers to more than 900 megawatts (MW). The company did not disclose the financial value of the OpenAI contract, while OpenAI did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The agreement comes as AI companies compete for access to the electricity, computing equipment and data centre capacity needed to train and operate increasingly sophisticated models. The demand has encouraged infrastructure providers to expand across markets where power availability and connectivity can support large scale AI operations.
Firmus was valued at more than $10.5 billion in its latest fundraising round in August. The company attracted backing from Nvidia, Jane Street, Blackstone funds and Coatue Management, according to Reuters. The latest agreement with OpenAI also comes ahead of a potential initial public offering that could become one of Australia's largest listings in recent years.
Firmus currently operates AI data centres in Australia and Singapore, while five additional facilities are under development across the Asia-Pacific region. The company plans to deploy Nvidia's next-generation Vera Rubin processors at scale across the region, with the Malaysian projects expanding its presence in Southeast Asia.
The expansion highlights Malaysia's growing importance as a regional data centre hub. Malaysia's Investment Development Authority said data centre and cloud-computing projects accounted for RM95.8 billion of approved investments in 2026, reflecting growing demand for infrastructure supporting AI and digital services.
However, Malaysia's rapid data centre expansion has also increased scrutiny over electricity and water consumption. The government has introduced sustainability requirements for data centre investments, including benchmarks for power and water efficiency, while prioritising projects with secured power and water resources.
For Firmus, the OpenAI agreement strengthens its contracted customer base and comes at a potentially important stage as the company considers accessing public markets. For OpenAI, securing additional regional computing capacity provides infrastructure to support the continued expansion of its AI models and services.
The deal further demonstrates how the global AI race is increasingly extending beyond chips and software to the physical infrastructure required to power next-generation artificial intelligence.
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