AirTrunk to build second Osaka hyperscale data centre

AirTrunk has unveiled plans to build a major new facility in Osaka. The new campus, AirTrunk OSK2, located in East Osaka, will deliver up to 100 megawatts of IT power, a substantial leap from the existing 20MW OSK1 site in West Osaka.

Once operational, OSK2 will bring the company’s total hyperscale platform in Japan to around 530MW. This expansion is part of a broader US$8 billion (JPY1.2 trillion) investment AirTrunk has committed to across its existing and future projects in the region. Since entering the Japanese market, AirTrunk has invested approximately US$1.57 billion (JPY244 billion).

AirTrunk’s investment in Osaka reflects more than corporate ambition; it aligns with Japan’s broader economic and digital strategy. National initiatives such as Society 5.0 and the government’s Priority Plan for Digital Society place cloud and AI infrastructure at the centre of public policy, with a view to strengthening competitiveness and fostering responsible AI adoption.

Government officials have welcomed AirTrunk’s latest expansion. Mr Yamada Kenji, state minister of economy, trade and industry, described the OSK2 project as vital to supporting Japan’s national priorities.

He commented, “Japan is committed to building a robust digital foundation that accelerates innovation and strengthens our global competitiveness. Continued investments like AirTrunk’s new Osaka hyperscale data centre are vital to supporting our national priorities, including Society 5.0 and the responsible adoption of AI. By partnering with leading technology companies, we are ensuring that Japan remains at the forefront of sustainable digital infrastructure and economic growth.”

Whilst AirTrunk founder and CEO Robin Khuda, commented that Osaka’s expansion is not only strategic, it’s also symbolic. “Japan plays a pivotal role in AirTrunk’s platform growth across Asia-Pacific,” he said. “As Japan’s cloud and AI adoption accelerates, our continued investment in Osaka and Tokyo reflects our long-term commitment to building the scalable infrastructure that underpins this transformation.”

OSK2 will become AirTrunk’s 14th data centre across six Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets, contributing to a platform that, once fully built out, is expected to deliver more than 2 gigawatts of total capacity. In recent months, AirTrunk has also advanced projects in Malaysia, Singapore, and Tokyo.

In Malaysia, the development of a second cloud-ready campus in Johor, JHB2, is underway, adding to an existing platform that already provides over 420MW of capacity for hyperscale cloud customers.

In Singapore, AirTrunk secured a S$2.25 billion (US$1.67 billion) green loan to fund its planned SGP2 hyperscale centre, emphasizing a focus on sustainable growth.

In Tokyo, the company is expanding its footprint with a 300MW campus (TOK1) and has recently opened its TOK2 facility to anchor hyperscale demand in Japan’s capital region.

This regional momentum is complemented by AirTrunk’s partnerships in the Middle East, including a US$3 billion initiative in Saudi Arabia with HUMAIN, Blackstone, and the Public Investment Fund announced in October.

A significant turning point in AirTrunk’s journey was marked by its acquisition by Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, in a landmark A$24 billion (US$16.1 billion) deal. One of the most substantial data centre transactions ever recorded in the Asia-Pacific region. The move was swiftly followed by a US$16 billion sustainability-linked refinancing.