SoftBank and Grab team up with Petros for AI in Malaysia: initial investments and 5 GW target

Agreement for AI infrastructure between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia: seed of $10 billion and $7.5 billion according to the source, with Petros at $100 million. Multi-year projects of more than 5 GW still to be financed and populated with customers.

The agreement and the parties involved

SoftBank and Southeast Asian mobility platform Grab have signed a collaboration agreement with Malaysian oil company Petros to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure in the state of Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. The news was reported by IT之家, which cites the announcement released by the same source on 10 November 2026 and reports that the signing took place the previous day.

According to the report, the agreement covers two separate projects, one for each of the two geographical areas indicated. The agreement is not limited to a statement of intent: it provides for an initial capital allocation, described by the source as a seed round, with differing amounts among the partners.

The amounts of the initial round and expansion plans

The source states that SoftBank and Grab will invest $1 billion and $750 million, respectively, in the two projects, while Petros will contribute $100 million. According to the available account, this is initial financing intended to launch development, not the total cost of the operation.

The project is described as multi-year and with an overall design capacity of more than 5 GW. The parties intend to seek additional investors and large data-center customers, namely hyperscale operators, to support development and expansion. The material does not specify how the 5 GW is divided between the two sites or a construction timeline, elements that therefore remain to be verified.

Roles, governance and shareholding lock-up

Management of the development of the two projects would be entrusted to Anthony Tan, co-founder and CEO of Grab, who according to the source will appoint management teams dedicated to the day-to-day running of the activities. The indication is presented as a forecast and not as a formal appointment in the available text.

Another element of the agreement concerns the shareholding relationship between the two partners: SoftBank would have agreed in principle to a five-year lock-up on its stake in Grab. The restriction is described as an agreed principle, therefore not yet as a definitive commitment.

Overall, the transaction signals the entry of a mobility player such as Grab into a role as an AI infrastructure developer, alongside a technology investor and a local energy company. However, timing, the precise location of the sites, additional funding sources and buyers of the capacity remain to be clarified: the material does not specify them.

Source and attribution: this original summary was prepared by AICronaca based on the report by IT之家 ↗. The statements are attributed to the source; any information limitations: The information comes from a single source, IT之家, which reports an announcement; the amounts and the 5 GW size have not been independently verified. The text does not indicate the allocation of funds between the two projects, start dates, capacity per site or the hyperscale customers involved. The appointment of Anthony Tan and the five-year lock-up on Grab shares are presented respectively as a forecast and as an agreement in principle, not as definitive commitments..