Page 76 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Cloud's advanced cloud resources, global infrastructure, the collaboration as “a game-changer for enterprises
and availability zones, TrueWatch has cut infrastructure struggling with fragmented cloud environments” and
setup and deployment time by 50%. In addition, hosting says that Tencent Cloud's robust infrastructure “allows
its observability platform on Tencent Cloud's globally us to deliver a unified observability platform that not only
certified infrastructure ensures compliance with local simplifies complexity but also aligns with Indonesia's
data protection regulations in key markets, including data sovereignty needs”.
Indonesia, Singapore, Europe, and North America. Mike (March 11, 2025) www.developingtelecoms.com
Loong, Executive Director of TrueWatch, describes

Underlining the continuing effect of the AI boom on offer connectivity to all fibre providers in the city. It will
Asia, Thailand has reportedly approved an estimated be optimised for AI and cloud workloads. As Reuters
US$2.7 billion of investments in data centres and reports, these companies will join others already on
cloud services from both local and foreign firms. The the way, including TikTok, which in January announced
Thailand announcement, made earlier this week, came from the plans to set up a data hosting service in Thailand,
valued at THB126.8 billion baht (US$3.8 billion). Google
country’s investment board which confirmed a number
of specific projects. They include data centres from has said it will invest $1 billion in Thailand. Amazon
Chinese digital infrastructure company Beijing Haoyang Web Services has announced a US$5 billion investment
Cloud&Data Technology, whose plan in Thailand in the country over 15 years. Microsoft has also
includes a 300 megawatt data centre valued at THB72.7 announced it will open its first regional data centre in
billion (about US$2.2 billion). Another company coming Thailand. This is only the latest in some big investments
on board is Thai company, GSA Data Center 02, which of late. The Data Centre Dynamics website says that,
has proposed a THB13.5 billion (US$402 million) in November 2024, the country's Board of Investment
investment for a 35 MW data centre. Singapore-based approved close to US$1.8 billion in data centre projects
Empyrion Digital, which develops and operates what it in Thailand, including a data centre for Google and
calls a new generation of future-ready sustainable data another by GDS subsidiary DigitalLand Services. GDS is
centres, plans to open a facility in Q1 2027. Empyrion is a leading developer and operator of high-performance
planning to invest 4.72 billion baht (US$140.5 million) data centres in China and South East Asia.
in the 12MW data centre located in Bangkok. The (March 19, 2025) www.developingtelecoms.com
facility is expected to span 9,960 square metres and

Ugandan MPs have adopted a proposal for a single greater competition, improve the quality of services.
SIM card policy, which aims to simplify communication The plan was apparently unanimously approved at
across the country’s networks. It also means, in a plenary session presided by Deputy Parliamentary
theory, that mobile phone customers will not need to Speaker Thomas Tayebwa. According to Ugandan
Uganda carry multiple SIM cards or handsets.This consumer media, it will soon enable consumers to call, text, and
transact smoothly across many mobile phone networks.
protection measure, according to MPs, would allow
subscribers to retain their phone numbers when This news comes at the same time as a reminder that
switching networks or geographic locations, on the demand for mobile communications seems to be
lines, it seems, of mobile number portability. The growing in Uganda. Operator MTN Uganda has been
policy was championed in parliament by MP Joyce granted a new number range by the UCC. The 079 range
Bagala, who has suggested it could improve network will help it to expand its network capacity.
accessibility, reduce connectivity costs and, thanks to (March 12, 2025) www.developingtelecoms.com

The UK government has announced a £23 million million going into AI and cloud computing research.
investment in telecoms research and development, Among the organisations set to receive new funding is
covering a wide range of topics including 5G, quantum the Northeast Combined Authority, which has secured
computing, and drone technologies. The new funding an additional £1.9 million for a variety of projects. These
United will impact seven technology projects led by local include the further development and extraction of smart
port solutions into other sectors, as well as improving
governments across the UK. Around £7 million of this
Kingdom funding will support projects that integrate 5G into transport efficiency between Nissan and the Port of
businesses and public services, with the remaining £15 Tyne. In the local agriculture sector, the funding will

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