The Asian nation has temporarily frozen construction of major digital facilities. Thailand's authorities have suspended construction of forty-nine modern data centers. The decision is tied to growing concerns over the energy consumption of these facilities. The significant environmental impact of digital infrastructure is also a source of concern for authorities. Bloomberg reported this important news to the wider public today. The projects have been fully frozen pending the development of new regulatory rules. The country's government expects to present new standards within a month. Authorities emphasize that this does not constitute a complete rejection of foreign technology investment. Thailand is seeking to remain attractive to major international companies. New unified standards will allow the industry to develop more sustainably going forward. The rules will apply to both operational and under-construction facilities simultaneously.
Thailand has become one of the regional hubs for infrastructure development. Well-known global technology giants are actively expanding their capacity in the country. Google and Amazon are building major new facilities there. Microsoft is also developing its infrastructure in the region. The popular platform TikTok previously received official approval from the country's authorities. In the first six months alone, eighty-eight projects were approved. Total investment reached 886 billion baht. This figure is equivalent to twenty-seven billion US dollars. This exceeds the total investment volume for all of last year. The rapid growth of the sector is prompting authorities to reconsider their previous approach. Data centers require enormous amounts of electricity and fresh water.
The government is considering raising tariffs for large facility operators. Authorities plan to strengthen oversight of construction in densely populated areas. In the capital Bangkok, approval of several major projects has been temporarily halted. Local residents complained about the construction of a center near a hospital. This issue is becoming part of a notable global trend. Countries are facing growing resistance to the construction of new digital infrastructure. The organization Data Center Watch has published important market statistics. In the first three months, seventy-five major projects were blocked. The total value of delayed facilities reached $130 billion. Local residents' protests were the primary cause of these blockages.
Thailand currently has thirty-five modern data centers in operation. Another one hundred and seventeen facilities are awaiting official investment approval from the authorities. The country's government is trying to strike a balance between development and environmental concerns. New rules must take into account the interests of both local residents and businesses. Major technology companies are closely watching the actions of Thai authorities. The global industry is gradually adapting to new environmental requirements. Data centers remain a critical foundation for the development of modern AI systems. Demand for computing power continues to grow steadily each month. Governments around the world are seeking ways to ensure sustainable development of the sector.