Bangkok: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has conducted inspections on 47 data centers to advance the optimization of systems within the city, emphasizing its support for technological development while ensuring these systems align with urban needs.

According to Thai News Agency, Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt disclosed that the city is actively compiling and verifying data on these centers. The information, sourced through collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) and public records, covers 47 data centers. District offices have been tasked with on-site evaluations to assess data center usage, environmental factors, energy consumption, fuel storage, backup power systems, noise, heat, and other potential disturbances. This initiative aims to gather comprehensive data to aid in the holistic management of the city's infrastructure.

For standalone data centers that have sought permits from the BMA, six applications have been filed. Three of these have received approval and are operational, while the remaining three are pending review. The BMA has postponed further processing of these applications until clearer guidelines are issued by relevant agencies.

The 47 data centers under BMA's review are situated within general buildings or offices and have not applied for specific data center permits. Consequently, the BMA's inspections are intended to clarify usage patterns and gather complete data from each facility, ultimately creating a comprehensive view of the city's data infrastructure.

Governor Chatchart highlighted that district inspections are guided by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society's database. With data collection complete, the city awaits further instructions from the Data Center board, anticipated within a month. Meanwhile, efforts focus on minimizing public impact.

The Governor noted that Bangkok's data centers are not major energy consumers, averaging around 20 megawatts of electricity usage. They are also subject to oil reserve guidelines, requiring a storage capacity of 500,000 liters, established in 2004 by the Energy Ministry. Future reviews of these guidelines will consider evolving data and the suitability of new technologies and operational models.

The BMA plans to utilize the inspection data to establish a comprehensive overview of the city's data centers, formulating appropriate guidelines to support the digital economy's growth while safeguarding citizens' quality of life and the urban environment.