Singapore's AsiaPhos and China Mobile International Forge Preliminary Data Center Pact
February 11, 2026
In a move highlighting the diverse entry points into the booming digital infrastructure sector, Singapore-based AsiaPhos Limited, a company transitioning from phosphate mining to clean energy, has entered a preliminary agreement with China Mobile International (CMI) to explore data center development across Southeast Asia. This potential partnership underscores the region's intense demand for computing capacity, driven by digitalization and artificial intelligence, attracting players from various industrial backgrounds.
The two entities signed a non-binding Letter of Intent, announced this week, to jointly assess opportunities for building data centers in key markets including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The agreement designates CMI, the international arm of the Chinese state-owned telecommunications giant China Mobile, as a "top priority" supplier for AsiaPhos in any future data center projects. In return, CMI has committed to "introduce potential customers… in the areas of data centers and artificial intelligence computing services projects" to the venture.
Specific details regarding the scale, capacity, investment amounts, or timeline for any potential facilities remain undisclosed, given the early, exploratory nature of the agreement. The announcement marks a significant strategic pivot for AsiaPhos, which describes itself on its website as aspiring to be a "world-class leader in clean energy solutions and renewable energy development." It is currently unclear what prior experience, if any, the company possesses in the data center construction or operations sector.
For China Mobile International, the deal represents a continued expansion of its infrastructure footprint beyond its core telecom services. The company, which operates under brands like CMHK in Hong Kong and CMLink in various international markets, is leveraging its vast network and customer relationships to secure a role in the foundational layer of the digital economy. If realized, this collaboration could accelerate data center build-out in Southeast Asia, a region experiencing a supply crunch amid soaring demand from cloud providers and enterprises.
Source: datacenterdynamics
