AWS launches Malaysia cloud, its third in Southeast Asia
Plans to invest RM29.2 billion over 15 years.
AWS has announced the opening of its Malaysia cloud region and plans to invest RM29.2 billion over 15 years.
According to AWS, this is the largest investment by an international cloud provider to date.
AWS in Southeast Asia
In Southeast Asia, AWS currently has a physical data centre footprint in:
- Singapore (Launched 2010).
- Jakarta (Launched 2021).
- Malaysia (2024).
All three cloud regions have 3 availability zones (AZs).
As each AZ is designed to operate independently, enterprises can create highly resilient cloud deployments by using more than 1 AZ.
In Singapore, AWS is in multiple data centres, including a data centre at Tanjong Kling.
Understanding cloud AZs
In 2016, I listened with fascination at re:Invent as AWS' James Hamilton described how AWS builds its AZs.
- Custom server NICs at 25Gbps.
- Fibre cables with 3,456 fibre count.
- Each fibre pair carrying 100Gbps links.
- Wired into a metropolitan area network.
- Highly peered transit centres to connect AZs.
What struck me was how AWS designed its own power switchgear to favour reliability over potential damage to on-site power generators.
That was the kind of scale and resilience that AWS practised even then.
Big plans ahead
Though AWS had always been coy about its expansion plans, it had consistently maintained that it wants to establish its cloud region in every country - eventually.
Aside from the RM29.2 billion AWS plans to invest through 2038, the press release doesn't offer much beyond claims of job creation and contributions to Malaysia's GDP.
I tend to skip these though, as it's possible to extrapolate just about anything depending on how one defines impact - and this was only mentioned in vague terms.
Final observations
Apart from the benefits of a local cloud region, I daresay the new AWS cloud region will also benefit Malaysia substantially should new data centre equipment be purchased from local firms.
According to MDEC, Malaysia is working to grow a data centre supply chain ecosystem, including in areas such as semiconductors and the manufacturing of data centre equipment.
In addition, I am hopeful that AWS will eventually buy renewable energy directly from the local grid, spurring the development of renewables in Malaysia - it is currently matched via power purchase agreements.
Is your organisation planning to move your workloads to the AWS Malaysia cloud region?
