Data Center Investment News — 16/10/2026
October 16, 2026
Written by Angela Cáceres, Siddhi Pandit, Ensar Aljimi
NTT Data in talks to build $6.3 billion AI data centre for Anthropic
NTT Data Group is reportedly in advanced discussions to develop a data centre in Osaka for Anthropic, in a project that could cost as much as JPY 1 trillion (around US$6.3 billion). According to Nikkei, the proposed facility would deliver 500MW of capacity, with partial operations potentially beginning in 2028.
If finalised, the project would give Anthropic its first dedicated data centre in Japan and mark one of the largest single AI infrastructure commitments in the country to date. It also underlines NTT’s broader ambition to scale its domestic footprint as hyperscale and AI demand accelerates across the Japanese market.
DayOne secures $3.67 billion financing for Johor expansion
DayOne has secured an additional RM15 billion (US$3.67 billion) in multi-currency financing to support the next phase of its hyperscale data centre development in Johor, Malaysia. The package, which includes both conventional debt and Islamic financing, was arranged by a group of seven banks.
The new facilities bring DayOne’s total financing to RM30 billion (US$7.2 billion), cementing Johor’s status as one of Southeast Asia’s most heavily capitalised data centre hubs. The deal follows a busy period for the Singapore-headquartered operator, which has been expanding rapidly across the region while advancing plans for a US listing.
Meta named as company behind 3,000 acre data center project in Mason County, Kentucky
Meta has been confirmed as the developer behind a proposed data center campus covering almost 3,000 acres in Mason County, Kentucky. The company was identified at an October 13 fiscal court meeting, where county commissioners approved a community benefits agreement under which Meta will invest $10 billion in the project, with scope for further phases.
The agreement is expected to support more than 4,000 construction jobs and 300 permanent roles, alongside $115 million for road, water and pipeline upgrades. In return, Meta will receive a 40-year local property tax break. Earlier filings point to six large data center buildings and up to 2.2GW of power, though a local petition opposing the development has gathered more than 1,400 signatures.
Russia could deploy AI data centers in Belarus and Kazakhstan as local capacity struggles
Russia is weighing plans to place AI data centers in Belarus and Kazakhstan, driven in part by mounting shortages of domestic energy capacity. According to RBC, consultations are under way within Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, with several locations under consideration but no final decisions taken.
The move reflects growing strain on the Russian grid, particularly around Moscow, where new data centers reportedly cannot be connected due to capacity constraints and power outages have occurred this year. Data center development across the country has slowed markedly, with nearly a third of announced projects stalling amid high capital costs, rising construction expenses and difficult grid access.
PowerHouse & Big Watt secure approval for 1GW behind-the-meter campus in Taylor, Texas
PowerHouse and Big Watt Digital have won unanimous approval from Taylor City Council for the Taylor Technology Campus, previously known as Project Mustang, around 35 miles northeast of Austin. The 664-acre site is designed to deliver up to 1GW of data center capacity, powered behind the meter by a new 750MW natural gas plant.
First power is targeted for the first half of 2028, with an initial 500MW phase, and the campus will use closed-loop cooling to limit water consumption. The project adds to PowerHouse’s sizeable Texas pipeline and highlights the growing appeal of dedicated on-site generation as developers look to bypass grid connection bottlenecks.
Application filed for 3.3 million sq ft data center campus in Augusta, Georgia
A development of regional impact application has been filed for the Nixon Technology Center, a proposed 3.34 million sq ft data center campus spanning 388 acres in Richmond County, just outside Augusta, Georgia. Submitted by 3 G Investments, the plans target a go-live date in 2028 or 2029 on largely vacant land next to Augusta Regional Airport.
Few details have been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether a developer or end user is attached to the project. The filing is the latest in a wave of large-scale proposals across Georgia, as the Atlanta region and the wider state evolve from a secondary market into one of the most active data center growth corridors in the US.
Iren targets 900MW data center campus in Wagga Wagga, Australia
Iren has unveiled plans for Redbank, a proposed 900MW data center campus near Wagga Wagga in regional New South Wales. The project, currently in early assessment, is working toward a grid connection from 2029 and could attract more than AU$10 billion (US$7 billion) in investment.
Iren intends to fund the required transmission works and contract new renewable energy and storage to match its demand, with closed-loop cooling planned to reduce water use. Redbank sits outside the company’s existing 5GW secured-power portfolio and follows its 800MW Bundey proposal in South Australia, signalling a significant strategic push into the Australian market.
Microsoft acquires 600 acres of land for data center in Woodward, Iowa
Microsoft has purchased 600 acres in Woodward, around 30 miles northwest of Des Moines, for a potential data center campus. The acquisition, completed on October 8, was disclosed at a heated public meeting attended by at least 300 residents, many of whom voiced frustration at having no direct vote on the project.
Microsoft says design work has not yet begun and is expected to take two to three years, with the first building requiring roughly two more to complete. The campus is intended for cloud and storage workloads rather than AI training, adding to Microsoft’s already extensive portfolio of projects across the Des Moines area.
FiveNines Group and Nexus Core Systems partner on 20MW data center in Morocco
UK-based FiveNines Group has partnered with Nexus Core Systems to deliver a 20MW AI data center on the outskirts of Casablanca. Designed for high-density computing, the facility will house Nvidia Vera Rubin NVL72 systems, with FiveNines overseeing design management, technical governance and procurement strategy.
The site will form part of Nexus’s wider AI Factory Platform, which aims to build a 180MW renewable-powered infrastructure hub in the region. While Morocco’s data center market remains small, the project points to rising interest in North Africa as a destination for AI capacity.
