WHA Utilities and Power Plc (WHAUP), a subsidiary of WHA Corp, Thailand's largest industrial land developer, is confident that relocating data centre operations to Thailand will deliver far-reaching benefits despite criticism that such facilities consume vast amounts of resources.
Chief executive Akarin Prathuangsit said that the first wave of beneficiaries includes companies involved in construction, energy supply and advanced cooling systems.
Hyper-scale data centres, which require enormous amounts of electricity and water, are particularly attracted to large land plots in the Eastern Economic Corridor. The area's proximity to submarine cable stations and its robust infrastructure make it a prime location for global operators.
Mr Akarin emphasised that electricity producers and distributors, especially those in the clean energy sector, stand to gain significantly.
"WHAUP sells electricity and water to data centres, and many more are in the process of relocating to Thailand or seeking land in WHA's industrial estates," he said.
The surge in power demand from data centres is expected to accelerate Thailand's transition towards direct power purchase agreements.
This model allows power companies to sell electricity directly to data centre operators, bypassing restrictions on peer-to-peer energy trade.
The government is preparing a pilot scheme to support new investments in this sector.
Beyond energy, the ripple effects will extend to electronics, telecommunications and IT industries, Mr Akarin said.
Demand for reliable backup power systems, high-efficiency cooling and ultra-fast connectivity will rise sharply.
Fibre optic providers, mobile operators and subsea cable networks will benefit from leasing high-speed internet infrastructure, while software developers and artificial intelligence (AI) firms will enjoy lower costs and reduced latency.
Mr Akarin noted that industries such as healthcare, which rely on precision equipment and AI-driven diagnostics, will also benefit.
Meanwhile, banks, retailers and government agencies are expected to accelerate their migration to cloud services, creating new opportunities for IT-related businesses.
"If we have strong systems for managing electricity and water, the criticism that data centres are resource-hungry will fade when compared with the overall benefits to the country," Mr Akarin said.
