To balance industry growth with sustainability goals, Thailand is introducing specialized regulatory guidelines for data centres. The updated rules establish distinct structural and safety standards across five power-use tiers while offering reduced electricity tariffs for operators leveraging clean energy, boosting the country's position as a Southeast Asian digital hub.

Vietnam is deepening strategic cooperation with South Korea to accelerate its national capacity in nuclear power and artificial intelligence. Outlined during high-level meetings in Seoul, the partnership targets joint R&D in quantum computing and AI, the development of 500MW computing infrastructure and Vietnamese-language LLMs, and long-term tech transfer to support Vietnam's National AI Strategy through 2030.

As AI adoption accelerates across Malaysia, boardroom accountability and digital trust are becoming key market differentiators. TM One executive vice-president Shanti Jusnita Johari highlights why leadership, unified threat visibility, and robust AI governance are essential for sustainable growth.

Following a three-day visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that Malaysia has secured over RM28 billion in potential investments from 26 major Chinese corporations. The investment commitments target high-impact growth sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and cutting-edge medical technologies.

Booming demand from AI, data centres, semiconductors, and electric transport is pushing Vietnam’s energy grid to its limits. With power shortages projected to reach 61 billion kWh by 2030, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is revising its power plan and proposing urgent rooftop solar and battery storage rollouts to keep pace with rapid growth.

Deputy Minister Stella Christie highlights Indonesia's potential to become a global leader in sovereign AI. By combining a massive population-driven data asset with sustainable, renewable-energy-powered data centers, the nation is positioning itself as a key green computing hub in the global tech ecosystem.

Indonesia and India have formalized a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in telecommunications and future digital ecosystems. Led by Indonesian Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid, the five-year agreement focuses on joint R&D for 5G, 6G, and quantum technology, alongside talent upskilling, B2B partnerships, and resilient emergency communication systems for disaster management.

Thailand's government aims to finalize a new regulatory framework and minimum standards for data centres within approximately one month. Led by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the upcoming rules will set standards for water and electricity efficiency, address environmental impacts, and classify facilities by size to minimize disruption to existing operators.

Malaysia's Data Centre Task Force (DCTF) has received over 40 applications in 2026 to establish or expand digital infrastructure. Backed by RM95.8 billion in data-centre and cloud-computing investments approved in H1 2026, the government is prioritizing sustainable resource management, AI adoption, and high-value job creation.

As AI demand surges, Southeast Asian governments are balancing massive infrastructure projects—such as Indonesia’s 1.3 GW data center target—with power bottlenecks and stricter cybersecurity oversight.

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.