Thailand Pauses 49 Data Center Projects As It Prepares New Regulations

Thailand has suspended construction on 49 data center projects over concerns about power consumption and impacts on local communities. The pause, announced by National Economic and Social Development Council secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan, will give officials time to develop new regulations for more sustainable data center development. Thailand has also frozen approvals for 117 planned facilities, though the affected projects have not been identified.

The new standards will require data centers to meet requirements covering zoning, building separation, safety, electrical systems, backup fuel storage, and environmental protection. Existing facilities will receive a transition period to comply. Despite the pause, Thai officials said the country remains open to data center investment. They stressed the need for clear, consistent standards and a unified oversight body for both existing and new facilities.

Thailand has attracted significant data center investment in recent years, driven by growing AI demand. In H1 2026, the country approved 88 AI and data center projects worth around 886 billion baht ($27 billion). Major hyperscalers already operating or expanding in Thailand include AWS, Google, Microsoft, and Alibaba Cloud. AWS launched its cloud region in 2025, Google followed with a Bangkok region, while Microsoft and Alibaba Cloud are also expanding their presence.