Hexa & Equinix partner to boost Asia-US connectivity

Hexa Capital Consultancy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Equinix to facilitate connectivity between Asia-Pacific and the United States for businesses.

The announced collaboration connects the Malaysia-U.S. (MYUS) cable, owned by Hexa, with Equinix's International Business Exchange data centres in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the United States. This initiative seeks to provide MYUS customers direct access to a global ecosystem of hyperscalers, network and content service providers, and enterprises, enhancing digital exchanges between the regions.

The Southeast Asia digital market is undergoing considerable growth, driven by the rising acceptance of digital technologies and the flourishing tech startup environment. With over 650 million people, the region offers substantial opportunities for business expansion and innovation. However, robust connectivity with the United States is pivotal to unlocking the full potential of this digital transformation.

The MYUS cable will, for the first time, provide a direct high-capacity fibre optic connection between Malaysia and the United States. This connectivity aims to enhance the availability of reliable and affordable digital services throughout Southeast Asia, connecting the Malaysian Peninsula near Sedili, Johor, to the U.S. territory of Guam, and then on to Florence, Oregon. Future extensions of the cable network are anticipated to reach additional locations, including Balikpapan and Hawaii.

Equinix operates data centres in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Jakarta, and multiple locations in the United States, including Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles. MYUS customers and network service providers can interconnect with a dense ecosystem of over 10,000 companies globally, courtesy of these proximate data centres.

Hexa has collaborated with an Indonesian partner to develop suitable landing sites for multiple cables, notably in Batam and Jakarta. The selected Jakarta landing site is in Tanjung Pakis, east of Jakarta, close to the central southern area where JK1 will be located.

The Florence, Oregon, landing is intended to serve as a key aggregation and distribution point on the Pacific Northwest for fibre pairing owners' traffic, which can then continue either north to Seattle or south to Hillsboro, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and further afield.

This strategic partnership seeks to expand global connectivity and enhance internet infrastructure in Southeast Asia, strengthening the link between cloud, content, and digital processing housed in the region's critical data centres.

"The MYUS Cable is being designed specifically to provide trusted and reliable direct fibre connectivity for the very largest of global hyperscalers, cloud and content services providers as well as for major telecom carriers, it is likely that there will be a high degree congruency between MYUS Cable customers and Equinix's largest data centre customers," stated Dr Abang Azhari Hadari, Founder and CEO of Hexa.

Equinix's comprehensive network includes more than 60 subsea connected data centres worldwide, with a focus on reducing cable landing system costs and managing landing points efficiently.

Cheam Tat Inn, Managing Director, Malaysia, Equinix, remarked, "At Equinix, we recognise the critical role that subsea cables play in today's interconnected global economy. We are proud to leverage our extensive expertise and experience in hosting subsea cables to support the MYUS cable project. By providing reliable and efficient connectivity solutions, we enable businesses to thrive in the digital era and unlock new opportunities in the global marketplace."

Hexa is progressing towards finalising anchor fibre pair customers, negotiating system supply contracts, and securing full project implementation finance, anticipated by 2025.