Summit Group is preparing to enter Bangladesh’s fast-expanding data centre market, aiming to build its first facility near Dhaka. The plan was outlined by the company’s founder and chairman, Muhammed Aziz Khan, in an interview with Nikkei Asia, where he said Summit hopes to begin working with an experienced external partner within the next year to develop the data centre.
The company sees rising demand for local data storage as internet use, cloud services and digital applications grow across the country. The first facility is expected to use gas-based power from Summit Power International, the group’s energy arm and Bangladesh’s largest private power producer. “Our next phase focuses on integrating energy and data, leveraging our LNG and fibre-optic expertise,” Aziz said.
Summit Power accounts for about 7% of Bangladesh’s installed electricity capacity through 10 gas plants and five oil plants. The group also owns Summit Communications. It operates a nationwide fibre-optic network carrying nearly half of the country’s internet traffic. “We have electricity, fibre and land,” he said, adding that a data centre could be delivered in about a year and a half.
Demand for data centres in Bangladesh is increasing as smartphone and internet use rise. More services are also moving to the cloud. Government investment in broadband and digital infrastructure has also supported this growth. A new personal data protection law may further increase demand by limiting the transfer of personal data outside the country.
Aziz said some of the ‘Magnificent 7’ have shown interest, referring to Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla. The company is aiming to secure a customer this year.
The plan comes as Bangladesh faces challenges in balancing digital growth with climate goals. Data centres require large amounts of electricity, while renewable energy still makes up a small share of the country’s power mix. “We have to recast that model,” Aziz said, pointing to options such as carbon capture and importing clean electricity from neighbouring countries.
Despite political uncertainty and delays in some renewable projects, Aziz said investor interest in Bangladesh remains, supported by the country’s large middle class and strong export sector.
