AIB Data Centers has signed a binding agreement with Nebius for 50 megawatts of critical IT capacity at its data center facility in the southeastern United States, adding another long-term customer to its growing AI infrastructure portfolio. The agreement positions AIB to convert existing utility access into contracted computing capacity as developers race to secure power for increasingly energy-intensive artificial intelligence workloads. Nebius, an AI cloud company, will use the dedicated capacity for training and inference workloads, giving the facility a direct connection to the expanding demand for AI compute. The deal also gives AIB a customer-backed development path as it works to build out its initial 50MW phase.

Nebius Deal Creates Capital-Efficient Development Path

AIB expects customer prepayments under the initial 12-year contract to fund a substantial portion of the project’s development costs alongside project-level debt and preferred equity. That structure could materially reduce the company’s reliance on corporate-level common equity while limiting potential shareholder dilution during the initial buildout. The financing approach reflects a broader shift in AI infrastructure toward securing contracted demand before developers commit significant capital to power, buildings and high-density computing systems. For AIB, the Nebius agreement therefore represents more than a capacity booking because it links future infrastructure investment with contracted revenue visibility.

The 50MW commitment also sits within AIB’s previously announced 15-year Electric Service Agreement covering 65MW of utility load at the site. According to the company, the existing power position requires no significant additional electrical infrastructure upgrades, removing one of the major hurdles that can delay AI data center projects. AIB expects to deliver the contracted capacity through two data halls, creating a defined construction path for the initial deployment. In turn, the combination of secured utility capacity and a long-term customer gives the project a clearer route from power availability to operational AI infrastructure.

“Signing Nebius represents a transformational milestone for AIB,” said Jerry Tang, Chief Executive Officer of AIB Data Centers. “Our strategy is straightforward: secure power in attractive markets and convert that power into long-term contracted revenue with leading AI infrastructure companies. This agreement validates that strategy. We believe we have a capital-efficient path to develop the initial capacity. Our focus now turns to execution and delivering on schedule.”

Power Access Becomes AI Infrastructure Advantage

The agreement highlights how access to electricity has become a central differentiator in the AI data center market, where developers increasingly compete around the ability to bring large blocks of power online rather than simply securing physical sites. Nebius’s decision to contract capacity at AIB’s southeastern US facility also underscores the importance of regional power positions as AI cloud providers expand their infrastructure footprints. AIB’s existing 65MW utility agreement provides a foundation for the initial deployment without requiring major additional electrical upgrades. That advantage can shorten the infrastructure path between customer commitment and eventual compute availability.

“Time-to-power is the binding constraint on AI infrastructure today, and AIB’s existing power position gave us a clear path to bringing this capacity online on a timeline that works for our customers,” said Andrey Korolenko, Chief Product and Infrastructure Officer at Nebius. “This agreement adds dedicated capacity in the southeastern United States for training and inference workloads.”

AIB Expands Contracted Power Portfolio

The Nebius agreement follows AIB’s recent strategic acquisition in Texas, which increased the company’s total contracted power capacity to approximately 120MW. That expansion gives AIB a broader platform from which to pursue additional customers across AI and high-performance computing markets. The company is also advancing its remaining power portfolio while targeting further long-term agreements with infrastructure customers that require substantial and predictable electricity supplies. AIB’s leadership team includes executives with backgrounds at AWS, Amazon and Vantage Data Centers, supporting its strategy of developing purpose-built infrastructure around contracted AI and HPC demand.

For AIB, the immediate priority now shifts from securing the customer and capital structure to delivering the promised capacity on schedule. The Nebius contract gives the developer a long-term revenue anchor, while the existing utility agreement provides the underlying power position required for the initial 50MW deployment. The broader significance lies in how those pieces fit together: contracted demand, secured electricity and project-level financing can reduce the capital intensity of building AI infrastructure at scale. AIB is now positioning the Nebius project as a practical test of that model as the company expands its contracted power portfolio.