Answer for Written Question PT25

Reading Summary

📖 Reading time: 3 minutes
📊 Word count: 450 words

YANG BERHORMAT DR. AWANG HAJI MAHALI BIN HAJI MOMIN

QUESTION:

Yang Berhormat Dr. Awang Haji Mahali bin Haji Momin asked the Menteri Pengangkutan dan Infokomunikasi about the country's potential to become a regional data recovery center and the Ministry's plans to ensure that the digital infrastructure and network can support the nation as a regional data recovery center. Is this included in the Ministry's Digital Masterplan?

YANG BERHORMAT MENTERI PENGANGKUTAN DAN INFOKOMUNIKASI

ANSWER:

Thank you, Yang Berhormat Dr. Awang Haji Mahali bin Haji Momin, for the question regarding the country's potential as a regional data recovery center.

In this matter, I am pleased to inform that Negara Brunei Darussalam has been exploring opportunities in the Data Center industry for the past few years. Through entities like the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) and others, several stakeholders have been involved in reviewing proposals for the development of Data Centers in the country, including as a regional data recovery center.

For example, during the visit of Yang Berhormat Menteri Pengangkutan dan Infokomunikasi to Microsoft in Singapore in October 2024, a proposal was also made for the company to consider utilizing facilities or establishing a data center in Negara Brunei Darussalam, among others, to host their applications and cloud services. This also takes into account the high usage of Microsoft applications in the country.

However, one of the main elements required in these proposals is the base customer volume to make it viable. In this regard, these companies still believe that the local market size, including local demand, poses a challenge considering the small market size.

Therefore, at present, Unified National Networks (UNN) is spearheading several projects for the development of this industry. Among the initiatives undertaken by UNN include the following projects, which are also marketed abroad:

• The launch of Borneo-IX in 2021 as infrastructure for a neutral international Internet data exchange, enabling Internet Service Providers, content delivery network providers, cloud service providers, and network operators to exchange data more efficiently. This provision further enhances connectivity by reducing latency and improving data transfer speeds for domestic and regional network operators.

• The provision of Data Centre facilities and services located at three (3) locations, namely Telephone House Sumbiling, Tungku Submarine, and Telisai, aimed at supporting the country's digitalization efforts.

In this context, the Ministry of Pengangkutan dan Infokomunikasi will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to promote the development of the Data Center industry. This includes the potential of Negara Brunei Darussalam as a regional disaster recovery center, which can benefit from the security, stability, and safe environment in the country.

In this regard, the Ministry will also continue to study the key infrastructure which includes international connectivity such as under-sea cables and energy infrastructure as data centers require high energy demand.