Australia needs more datacentres says Deloitte - Asian Tech Roundup

Plus: India’s CCTV scare

Welcome to Computing's weekly roundup of tech news in Asia. This time we look at research that suggests Australia needs to double its datacentre capacity in the next four years if it wants to keep up with the neighbours, India’s investigation into potentially compromised CCTV cameras and a data breach at Mazda.

Australia could become a regional hub for AI infrastructure, according to new research by Deloitte Access Economics - sponsored (perhaps not uncoincidentally) by Google.

But, Deloitte warns, without faster investment and clearer policy settings, the country risks falling behind competitors.

To avoid this fate, the analysts say Australia will need around A$52 billion (US$36 billion) in digital infrastructure investment by 2030, including doubling its investment in compute, and nearly doubling its datacentre capacity from about 3.3GW today to 6.4GW today.

Despite the hot climate Deloitte Access Economics says Australia has several natural advantages, including access to land, capital and energy, as well as a relatively stable regulatory environment compared with some regional neighbours. But it warns that those neighbours are developing their infrastructure pipelines faster.

Should Australia take this advice, it could add an extra A$134 billion to the Australian economy by 2050 and support an average of 14,300 additional jobs each year, the analyst firm reckons.

Separate findings from RMIT Online and Deloitte Access Economics show that while AI tools are already widely used in workplaces, skills levels remain low. Although 84% of Australian workers use AI, only 7% claim advanced proficiency. The skills gap is particularly pronounced among older workers, who hold many senior decision‑making roles and the analysts say that in this aspect too, Australia risks getting left behind.

Australia

• Deloitte has warned that Australia’s lack of AI infrastructure could significantly hamper economic growth. Source
• Australians could boost their earning potential by as much as A$11,000 a year if they retrain in AI, research finds. Source
• Four months after Australia's social media ban for under 16s, some parents and teachers are lauding it as a success, but as more countries consider following suit, critics question whether bans are the right solution. Source
• The EU and Australia have agreed on a free trade pact, which is expected to boost technology and digital trade between the two regions. Source
• Australian space tech startup Gilmour is advancing its launch ambitions with new developments in rocket technology and partnerships, aiming to create a SpaceX rival. Source

China

• The UK has sanctioned Xinbi, a Chinese-language cryptocurrency marketplace accused of supplying stolen data and satellite internet equipment to scam networks across Southeast Asia. Source
• A US advisory body warns that China's dominance in open-source AI platforms could threaten the US lead in artificial intelligence. Source
• Hong Kong’s authorities may require phone passwords under the new national security law, sparking privacy concern over digital rights. Source
• Nvidia's DRIVE Hyperion platform is being adopted by automakers across Asia, including BYD and Geely, for Level 4 autonomous vehicles. Source
• A senior executive at Super Micro Computer and two others affiliated with the company have been charged with conspiring to smuggle billions of dollars of servers containing advanced Nvidia chips to China. Source
• China’s battery manufacturers are seeing increased demand and investment as oil market instability drives global interest in alternative energy solutions. Source
• China has barred the co-founders of Manus from leaving the country as it reviews the sale of the company to Meta. Source
• Alibaba's DAMO Academy has launched the Xuantie C950 server chip, optimised for running China's leading AI models, though it remains behind Western competitors in performance. Source
• Alibaba has also unveiled a 5-nm AI chipset design amid the OpenClaw frenzy. Source

India

• India's Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered a nationwide CCTV audit after concerns about a Pakistan-linked spy ring in Uttar Pradesh. Source
• Google will begin labelling verified investment apps in India to help users avoid scams, following a government crackdown on fraudulent platforms. Source
• Bengaluru-based food startup Swish has raised $38 million in its third funding round in 18 months, reflecting investor confidence in India's food tech sector. Source
• In food delivery, Zomato and Swiggy have increased platform fees, citing rising operational costs and regulatory changes as key factors. Source
• The Indian government has ordered ISPs to block 261 websites following a Delhi High Court directive related to Jiostar piracy. Source
• The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to MeitY regarding concerns over children’s data privacy and the use of AI platforms, questioning the adequacy of current protections. Source

Japan

• Mazda has disclosed a security breach that exposed sensitive data of employees and business partners. Source
• Renesas has launched model-based MCU selection and software lifecycle management tools designed automotive and industrial applications. Source
• Shares in SoftBank rose sharply after its unit Arm, which designs chips, said it is planning to sell its own silicon. Source.

South Korea

• SK Hynix has filed confidentially for a US listing of American Depositary Receipts in 2026, potentially raising up to $14 billion to fund chipmaking factories in South Korea and the US. Source
• The state-run Export-Import Bank of Korea is to provide 300 billion won ($200 million) to support LG’s AI initiatives, including an overseas export project for AI datacentres. Source

Taiwan

• In a major consolidation in the food delivery market, Grab is set to acquire Foodpanda Taiwan from Delivery Hero for $600 million. Source
• Air Liquide has opened its first chip materials plant in Taiwan, investing over $1 billion locally since 2019 to support TSMC and the region's semiconductor supply chain. Source
• UPS has opened a $100 million logistics centre in Taoyuan, its largest in Asia Pacific, to support Taiwan's booming tech sector. Source

Elsewhere in Asia

• Asia: The ongoing war in Iran is exposing vulnerabilities in the global AI supply chain, as East Asian chip manufacturers depend heavily on Middle Eastern energy imports. Source
• Asia-Pacific: OpenAI has hired the former CEO of Jiostar to lead its APAC operations. Source
• Singapore: JTC is expanding its LaunchPad startup hub, offering access to 19 cities and streamlining onboarding for both early-stage and scale-up companies, with new rent-free periods and flexible leases. Source