True IDC to invest THB ฿10bn in data centre expansion
True Internet Data Center, commonly known as True IDC, has announced a significant investment of over 10 billion baht to enhance its data centre and cloud business capacities. This investment initiative is slated to unfold over three years, from 2024 to 2027. Key elements of the investment plan include the expansion of data centres at True IDC East Bangna Campus and True IDC North Muangthong, alongside sustainability development projects oriented towards establishing a green data centre and operational excellence improvements.
The company aims to bolster its support for hyperscale businesses, OTT providers, and leading technology service providers branching into Thailand and the broader ASEAN region. The comprehensive expansion intends to position True IDC as the largest data centre in Thailand. The main focus of investment is upgrading data centres, specifically at True IDC East Bangna Campus and True IDC North Muangthong. Both projects, when completed, are expected to provide over 60,000 square metres of service area, adhering to Uptime and TIA-942 standards.
These expanded facilities will offer bespoke services, allowing businesses to customise their computer equipment setups. The enhancements include high-density computing support for AI technology, liquid cooling computing, and flexible electricity usage options. There is also an anticipated expansion of electricity capacity by an additional 41 megawatts, which will position True IDC as the provider with the highest electricity capacity in Thailand. Concurrently, the projects seek to achieve the lowest Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) level nationwide. The new data centres will ensure carrier-neutral networks via four diverse routes and provide direct connections to international cloud services and internet exchange services, facilitating faster data exchanges.
These data centre expansion projects' completion and operational readiness are earmarked for 2025. True IDC is also taking significant strides towards sustainability. The green data centre initiative will coincide with the construction of the new data centres, as the company emphasises the importance of digital sustainability from the infrastructure level. The designs will adhere to Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standards, employing environmentally friendly construction materials. Systems and equipment supporting sustainability, including SF-6-free equipment and lithium-ion batteries, will be integral to the development. The company also plans to integrate renewable energy sources, such as wind and biofuel cells, and existing solar cell installations. Electric vehicle charging stations powered by solar panels will also be installed.
True IDC has set a goal to align with the Charoen Pokphand Group's objective of becoming a carbon-neutral business by 2030. This goal includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all operations. Enhancing operational excellence, True IDC will employ Artificial Intelligence Data Center Infrastructure Management (AI DCIM) software in conjunction with IoT devices and smart sensors to monitor and manage data centre operations efficiently. This approach aims to optimise real-time monitoring and centralised analysis, thereby maintaining optimal temperatures and smooth functioning of high-heat generating equipment.
The company will align its operations with the Uptime Institute's Tier III Gold standard, a certification True IDC holds as the exclusive provider in Thailand and Indochina. This certification encompasses proactive maintenance and thorough system checks, conducted by seasoned experts to ensure uninterrupted IT operations for customers.
Theerapun Charoensak, General Manager of True IDC, remarked, "The data centre market in Southeast Asia is expected to grow significantly in 2024, with USDC Technology predicting a growth rate of up to 12.9%, resulting in a market value of USD $3.5 billion (approximately 122.5 billion baht)."
Charoensak added that the growth in AI technology adoption in Asia from 2023 to 2030, forecasted to be as high as 19.5%, positions this investment as a strategic move to create new opportunities for the Thai and ASEAN economies. He noted, "Despite being the number one data centre service provider in Thailand with over 20 years of operation, we aim to enhance our capabilities and develop services to meet the diverse needs of all businesses."
