NTT Communications (Thailand), the local operating unit under the NTT group, plans to launch an "innovation lab" to test and develop new technologies in blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) to accelerate the pace of digitisation in the country.
Mr Kahara sees technology investment continuing in line with Thailand 4.0.
The innovation lab investment is in addition to a 500-million-baht outlay for additional space for data centres at Amata Industrial Estate to meet increasing demand in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
"Despite uncertainty surrounding the formation of a new government, technology investment will continue in line with the Thailand 4.0 objective and EEC megaprojects," said Manabu Kahara, president of NTT Communications Thailand.
Mr Kahara said the company will continue to commit to the Thai market as automation and an ageing society disrupt the labour force.
By the second quarter of this year, NTT will open its first and largest innovation lab in the Asean region located at its Bangkok 2 Data Centre in Amata Industrial Estate.
"The NTT innovation lab will introduce a playground for customers and partners to do proof-of-concept, development for disruptive technologies such as blockchain, IoT, AI, hybrid cloud and software-defined networks," he said.
This innovation lab can serve as preventive maintenance for smart factories and blockchain solutions for financial and insurance sectors.
The company also expanded the third phase of Nexcentre, a high-density Bangkok 2 data centre, spanning 1,200 square metres with 2,000 kilowatts, located in Amata.
NTT plans in July to expand its business to meet the needs of over-the-top service operators, online games, online businesses, cloud service operators and financial institutions.
"This expansion expects to serve demand for the next two years in the growth of big data and cloud computing services," he said.
The company foresees demand to grow in hybrid cloud services as businesses need to use NTT's private cloud in core applications while using its public cloud providers for email and salesforce application services.
NTT provides connectivity and managed services to enable enterprises to connect their private clouds with other public cloud services of both US and Chinese cloud service operators.
In addition, there is rising demand for multi-cloud management providers and enterprise use of multiple public cloud services that need managing of security policy and migration of data in applications.
"We also see an increasing trend for outsourcing of managed security services, thanks to rising concern over cybersecurity risks in the digitisation era and the upcoming Cybersecurity Act to manage security risks and the Data Protection Act to prevent data leaks," said Mr Kahara.
However, the company will wait and see how the laws are executed by policymakers.
The company aims to grow by 30% over three years to 2021.
