Thailand approves $3.1 billion data center project to accelerate regional digital hub layout. At its first meeting in 2026, the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) approved seven new data center and hosting projects with a total investment of 3.1 billion US dollars, approximately 96.88 billion Thai baht, highlighting its determination to build an ASEAN digital innovation center. The approved projects are led by local and international enterprises, including three projects of True Internet Data Centre with an investment of 45.3 billion baht and an IT load of 223 megawatts, two projects of GSA Data Centre 05, a joint venture between Gulf, Singtel and AIS with an investment of 37.2 billion baht and an IT load of 120 megawatts, and projects of Stellar DC and Freyr Technology. The project is mainly distributed in key economic zones such as Chumphon, Bukit Bintang, Rayong, and Bangkok.

This approval is a continuation of Thailand's data center investment boom. In 2025, BOI received a total of 36 data center project applications with a total investment of over 23 billion US dollars, approximately 728 billion Thai baht. To guide the healthy development of the industry, BOI has strengthened investment promotion conditions by the end of 2025, requiring companies to ensure that at least 50% of management and expert positions are Thai employees within 3 years, and to complete localized activities such as talent training. At the same time, strict green data center energy efficiency standards have been set. Keywords: Southeast Asian Engineering Information Network, Digital Infrastructure

BOI Secretary General Nali stated that these strategic investments are crucial for accelerating Thailand's digital transformation. By building secure and high-performance data capabilities, they can ensure lower data latency, enhance network security, and strengthen data sovereignty, making Thailand a more attractive destination for global digital enterprises. Industry analysis suggests that the surge in global demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence is driving a competition for data center construction. Thailand's layout aims to seize this opportunity and compete for regional leadership in digital infrastructure.Editor/Cheng Liting