Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc., has officially announced the launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (Thailand) region, designed to provide businesses, government institutions, and non-profit organizations with advanced, secure infrastructure to run their applications and store data locally. This move reinforces AWS’s long-term commitment to Thailand’s digital growth and the Asia-Pacific region.
A Transformative Investment in the Thai Economy
AWS plans to invest more than $5 billion over the next few years in Thailand. According to estimates, this initiative will add approximately $10 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generate more than 11,000 full-time jobs annually, including positions in construction, maintenance, engineering, and telecommunications.
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed gratitude for AWS’s investment, highlighting:
“This project underscores Thailand’s potential and readiness to lead in digital transformation. I hope this collaboration advances equitable access to digital services for all our citizens.”
Features of the AWS Asia Pacific (Thailand) Region
The new region includes three availability zones, each with independent infrastructure in terms of power, cooling, and physical security, but connected through low-latency networks. This allows businesses to design applications with high fault tolerance and ensure business continuity.
Advanced Services Available
AWS customers in Thailand will have access to a wide range of cloud services, including:
- Computing: Solutions like Amazon EC2 for flexible workloads.
- Storage: Services like Amazon S3 for secure data storage.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Advanced platforms like Amazon SageMaker.
- IoT and Data Analytics: Capabilities to transform data in real-time.
Notable Customers and Cases in Thailand
Leading Thai companies and public organizations are already using AWS to drive innovation and enhance their operations:
- Bank of Ayudhya
- This major bank uses AWS services such as data analytics and artificial intelligence to improve financial accessibility and operational efficiency. According to its CTO, Pochara Vanaratseath, the new region will significantly expand their strategic collaboration with AWS.
- Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group)
- The largest corporation in Thailand uses AWS to accelerate its digital transformation in sectors like agribusiness, retail, and telecommunications.
- Big Data Institute (BDI)
- BDI, a government agency, is migrating its Health Link platform to AWS infrastructure to improve healthcare through secure access to decentralized health records.
- Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)
- With over 3.6 million users, SET uses AWS to scale its online trading platform and ensure fast, secure operations for digital investors.
Impact on Technological Development and Education
AWS is not only investing in infrastructure but also in training local talent. Since 2017, it has trained over 50,000 people in Thailand in cloud-related skills through programs such as AWS Academy and AWS Training & Certification.
Moreover, initiatives like Tech for Digital Future aim to equip high school and vocational students with foundational cloud computing knowledge, preparing the next generation of technology leaders.
Commitment to Sustainability
AWS aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Innovations to reduce its environmental footprint include:
- Optimizing data center design.
- Chips specifically designed for energy efficiency.
- Advanced cooling technologies.
According to a report by Accenture, AWS data centers are up to 4.1 times more efficient than local infrastructures, which can reduce the carbon footprint associated with cloud workloads by 99%.
Regional and Global Projection
With this expansion, AWS now has 111 availability zones across 35 geographic regions and plans to open 15 more zones and five additional regions in Mexico, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and the European sovereign cloud. These regions provide critical infrastructure for companies to comply with local data residency regulations and reduce latency for end users.
Conclusion
The launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (Thailand) region is a significant milestone for the country’s technological development. With massive investments, training programs, and a commitment to sustainability, AWS is not only accelerating digital transformation in Thailand but also positioning the country as a regional hub for technological innovation.
Businesses, public institutions, and startups in Thailand now have access to world-class infrastructure to scale their operations, drive innovation, and contribute to the growth of the digital economy in the Asia-Pacific region.