Nath Asadithsakun, Deals Partner at PwC Thailand, said:
"Thailand's data centre market is receiving strong support from the rapid expansion of cloud and AI services. According to data from the Thailand Board of Investment, 36 data centre investment projects worth a combined THB728bn were recorded in 2025. Growth is also being supported by key government policies, including the Cloud First policy and clean energy initiatives such as Utility Green Tariff 2 and Direct PPA."
Thailand's cumulative data centre capital expenditure is expected to rise from USD58.6bn in 2027 to USD150bn, or approximately THB5.06tn[1], by 2050, according to projections in PwC's Global Data Centre Outlook 2026-50. The report draws on data centre capital expenditure modelling by Oxford Economics, commissioned by PwC, covering 46 countries and territories worldwide.
Globally, cumulative data centre capital expenditure is predicted to reach USD31.6tn, or approximately THB1,067tn, between 2026 and 2050.
AI infrastructure and digital sovereignty key growth drivers
The rapid growth of AI is driving greater demand for infrastructure capable of processing and storing vast amounts of data. As a result, data centres are evolving from data storage facilities into advanced computing hubs capable of supporting large-scale AI systems, with sophisticated power management, cooling systems and digital infrastructure designed for AI.
At the same time, the growing focus on digital sovereignty—which prioritises the domestic control, storage and processing of data—is prompting an increase in data centre investment. Digital sovereignty enables countries to strengthen cybersecurity and build greater trust among businesses and the public sector.
"Within Asia Pacific, Thailand is among the markets benefiting from growing data centre investment. Investment across the region is expected to continue rising, driven by growing demand for cloud and data residency services from the private and public sectors," Nath said.
Data centres are expected to become strategic infrastructure supporting critical nationwide services, such as e-commerce and digital banking, as the digital economy grows. Beyond this, AI and digital sovereignty will drive demand for domestic data centre and cloud services, while providing Thai businesses and government agencies with greater choice over data residency.
Balancing resources and community needs for sustainable growth
The effective management of energy and water resources is critical to data centre development, especially in areas with high resource demand, such as Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), where careful resource management is essential, according to Nath. Without adequate forward planning, rising demand for resources could affect both local communities and the agricultural sector.
It will be critical to balance investment growth with the needs of local communities and other sectors of the economy. This means ensuring sufficient power generation and transmission capacity, expanding access to clean energy, managing water resources effectively, and setting appropriate environmental and location standards.
"The growth of data centres presents an opportunity to strengthen Thailand's digital infrastructure, but success should not be measured by investment value alone. What matters is creating an ecosystem that can effectively support this investment, including clean energy generation and transmission, water resource management, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, effective regulation, stringent environmental standards, and a responsibility towards local communities.
"With systematic planning across these areas, data centre investment can grow alongside economic development while ensuring the responsible use of resources over the long term," Nath concluded.