According to The Nation, Thailand commerce minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced the government’s plan to establish 105 smart cities in large municipal areas by 2027 during the opening ceremony of the Thailand Smart Expo (Nov., 2023).
According to
The Nation, Thailand commerce minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced the government’s plan to establish 105 smart cities in large municipal areas by 2027 during the opening ceremony of the Thailand Smart Expo (Nov., 2023).
Thailand is among the nations in Asia that are highly active in smart city development aimed at utilizing big data to modernize its urban centers into smart, sustainable cities. In 2023, Thailand currently has 36 smart cities in 25 provinces.
The smart city concept is a core pillar of the Thailand 4.0 digitalization initiative which is part of its 20-year national development plan to enhance the safety and quality of life for city inhabitants. Smart city services focused on addressing issues in transportation (traffic congestion), environment (pollution) and safety (surveillance monitoring) would be key technologies in these projects.
Recent Thailand smart city news include:
1. A
$37 billion smart city project planned in the Huai Yai subdistrict of Chonburi province, an industrial hub near Bangkok. Five business centers will be developed to house regional company headquarters, financial centers, and centers for medicine R&D and industrial firms using clean energy and 5G technology, along with residential quarters that can accommodate 350,000 people by 2032.
2.
Successful rollout of the country’s “first full functioning 5G-based smart city” in Ban Chang, province of Rayong, significantly increasing the town’s IoT network connectivity. This joint project by National Telecommunications (NT) and 5GCT, network software provider Mavenir and Cisco Systems (Thailand), has enabled town authorities to capture real-time environmental (5G smart pole system), traffic, drone and surveillance data in the area for immediate intervention as needed.
3.
1.35 trillion baht investment to transform three eastern provinces in the Eastern Economic Corridor (ECC) – Chonburi, Rayong and Chachoengsao – into a regional financial center and smart city by 2037. The investment will be focused on technologies for smart mobility, energy, environment, living, economy and governance.
Thailand smart city case study: Ban Chang
With its close proximity to three international airports and motorways linking it to two of Thailand’s largest cities (Pattaya and Bangkok), the Ban Chang municipality was chosen to be one of the EEC Economic Zones and the site of the first smart city project in Thailand. Let us take a closer look at some unique technologies being used.
IoT connectivity
Based on online news reports, the smart city operates on mmWave and a 5G network, utilizing open APIs in sync with cloud-native solutions. It boasts complete connectivity to VoLTE, VoWiFi, Advanced Messaging (RCS), Multi-ID, vEPC, and Virtualized RAN systems. This framework allows for real-time management of traffic, public safety, and digital signage. The enhanced services and infrastructure are now accessible to both government agencies and the private sector, optimizing shared investments and resources within the city.
5G smart poles for environmental monitoring and safety
5G smart pole systems were installed around the smart city for real-time monitoring of city-wide incidents as well as environmental conditions such as airborne toxins and dust levels, alerting government and security authorities to anomalies and ensuring swift responses to potential threats or emergencies.
An SOS button is also embedded in each 5G Smart Pole, ensuring prompt assistance in incidents such as car accidents or robberies. Residents can manually trigger the SOS button on the nearest smart pole or, in the near future, through a dedicated Ban Chang mobile application. The captured data, including AI camera footage, allows relevant authorities to monitor and analyze incidents, facilitating swift responses and real-time information sharing via the 5G network.
To learn more about current Thailand market developments and ongoing projects, click here to visit the Secutech Thailand website. Secutech Thailand is set to return Oct. 30- Nov. 1, 2024, featuring products and solutions in intelligent security, smart living, smart city solutions, and fire and safety.