Thailand's data center policy board has temporarily paused 166 data center projects—including 49 under construction—while government subcommittees draft nationwide rules governing power, water, safety, and site requirements. The initiative aims to align data center expansion with local job growth, tech transfer, and clean energy usage while ensuring public infrastructure remains protected.

Vietnam is modernizing its governance framework by replacing legacy paper workflows with interconnected electronic data systems. Under a proposed draft decree, public authorities will proactively pull required information from existing national databases—eliminating duplicate filings for businesses, reducing compliance delays, and streamlining administrative efficiency.

The Indonesian government is preparing to roll out a nationwide digital social protection platform in October 2026, targeting 50 million low-income citizens. Led by the National Economic Council, the system links administrative registries directly to recipients’ bank accounts and digital voucher channels to prevent aid misallocation and curb public corruption.

Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) has entered the neocloud market with the launch of Zankore, a massive 1 GW AI infrastructure platform. Backed by an $800M investment from Qatar's Ooredoo Group alongside strategic partnerships with Nvidia and Nokia, Zankore aims to deploy 200 MW of AI capacity by H1 2027. Discover how this landmark initiative positions Indonesia as a major hub amid surging APAC AI data center demand and regional power constraints.

ASEAN has successfully concluded negotiations for the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), set for signing at the 49th ASEAN Summit in November 2026. Discover the key features of this region-wide agreement, including cross-border data flows, e-commerce, cybersecurity, and digital payments, and learn how it creates new opportunities for businesses across Southeast Asia.

Bangkok has hit the brakes on new data centre licences, with governor Chadchart Sittipunt citing unresolved regulatory gaps around power, water, and fuel storage. While officials say the roughly 30–40 facilities already operating haven't strained city resources, unpermitted projects and safety concerns — including fuel stockpiling near residential areas — have pushed authorities to pause approvals until updated rules are in place. Major players like Damac Digital and KDDI-owned Telehouse remain among the projects already cleared.

Pemerintah mengingatkan perusahaan agar tidak menjadikan PHK massal sebagai jalan pintas efisiensi saat menerapkan kecerdasan artifisial. Melalui pendekatan human-centric transformation, pemanfaatan AI harus difokuskan pada reskilling dan upskilling tenaga kerja untuk meningkatkan produktivitas serta menciptakan nilai ekonomi baru di Indonesia.

Pemerintah menargetkan lonjakan kapasitas data center Indonesia dari 180 MW menjadi 1,3 GW. Langkah strategis ini disiapkan untuk menopang ekosistem AI dan transformasi digital, sekaligus mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi nasional hingga 15% pada 2035. Penguatan infrastruktur fisik ini juga berfokus pada penggunaan energi bersih serta pengembangan kualitas talenta digital lokal.

Driven by global AI infrastructure expansion, robust order books, and accelerating semiconductor demand, Malaysia’s technology sector is set for a sustained bull run extending into FY27.

Vietnam is shifting from adopting foreign AI to building its own sovereign ecosystem. By advancing domestic models, high-performance infrastructure, localized data, and top-tier talent, the country aims to establish AI as a core driver of its digital economy and state governance.

As autonomous agentic AI enters Indonesia’s financial sector, Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Nezar Patria highlights the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks, human oversight, and cross-agency collaboration to protect consumers and mitigate risk.

The Marcos administration has secured a $600-million grant from the United States to boost the Philippine healthcare system. Facilitated through the Strategic Objective Agreement, the funding will enhance disease surveillance, strengthen outbreak responses, and support key programs for HIV, tuberculosis, and maternal health without adding to the nation's debt.

Kelantan has surpassed Malaysia's 2026 national 5G target, reaching 87% network coverage in populated areas — ahead of the 80% goal. The milestone is backed by federal funding, including RM770 million for digital infrastructure near industrial zones and schools, and RM780 million under JENDELA Phase 2 to connect 2,700 new locations, as the state works to close the urban-rural digital divide.

Thailand's foreign business approvals climbed 26% to 736 companies in the first seven months of 2026, with total investment jumping 37% to THB219.2 billion. Singapore led by investment value, driven largely by data centre and digital services projects, while the Eastern Economic Corridor pulled in nearly 40% of all foreign investment capital — reinforcing Thailand's push to become a regional digital and AI hub.

Indonesia is targeting nationwide 5G coverage by 2029 to underpin its AI-driven digital economy, leveraging an existing fiber-optic backbone of over one million kilometers, including inter-island submarine cable systems. The push is prompting telecom operators to shift beyond basic connectivity toward AI cloud integration, high-performance computing, and IoT services — positioning the network as core infrastructure rather than just a communications utility.

Vietnam is mobilizing AI talent at home and abroad through a new global expert network and an ambitious national training program. The plan targets AI literacy for 80% of students, training for 10 million laborers, and development of 10,000 highly qualified AI researchers by 2030 — positioning Vietnam to master and apply strategic AI technologies rather than merely adopt them.