1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: Hello. Since you're a subscriber to this Bloomberg podcast, we 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: thought you'd be interested in a sponsored podcast called Stewards 3 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: of Compassion, produced by Bigrim and Bloomberg Media Studios. It 4 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: explores how to build for a lasting digital future. We 5 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed this episode. Bigrim is Thailand's oldest established company. 6 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: It will celebrate its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary in 7 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: twenty twenty eight. In this episode of Stewards of Compassion, 8 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: we look at a new chapter in that story. Across 9 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: the region, countries are building the infrastructure that will shape 10 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: the future of technology. In Thailand, Bigrim is part of 11 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: that shift through a major renewable energy powered data center project. 12 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: In John Burrie, Artificial intelligence may be the defining technology 13 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: of the next decade, but every AI breakthrough depends on 14 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: something far less visible, data centers. This is the story 15 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 1: of how Thailand is building its place in the digital 16 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: economy and what it takes to do that responsibly. The 17 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: Stewards of Compassion. Let's hear from doctor Harold Link, chairman 18 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: of b GRIM. 19 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: There's a change in the world in which now everybody 20 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 2: who wants to use artificial intelligence in their lives. Data 21 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 2: centers are mushrooming. If you are able to build, supply electricity, 22 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 2: manage these data centers, then you are nowadays in very 23 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: high demand. And so this is a separate business, very 24 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: suitable for Begrim because we have always been good in 25 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: building buildings and are very good in providing electricity day 26 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 2: and nine to two industrial users. 27 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: For doctor Link, this is part of a much bigger shift. 28 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: Ai needs physical infrascare structure, It needs power, cooling, connectivity 29 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: and people who know how to run systems at scale. 30 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 2: If you look at Bigrim history, we always brought very 31 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 2: modern technology to Thailand or we're part of the modern 32 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 2: technology development. So this is what we want to continue 33 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 2: to do. And Thailand wants to build another three thousand 34 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 2: makeup of artificial data centers and we are only scratching 35 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 2: the surface. We are only now at one hundred megap one, 36 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 2: so there's enormous future demand. 37 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: Doctor Link says. The opportunity is not only to host 38 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: more digital infrastructure, but to build more of the knowledge 39 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: and capability around it. Here in Thailand. 40 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: We have Thai companies who know how to do these things, 41 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 2: who know how to build and operate data centers, and 42 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 2: know how to improve the knowledge of the young people 43 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 2: in Thailand to become good developers of IT systems of 44 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 2: applications of software. BIGRIM is one of them. 45 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: That is the big picture. As demand for AI accelerates globally, 46 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: data centers are becoming one of the world's fastest growing 47 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: sources of electricity demand. Now, let's hear how BIGRIM is 48 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: turning that into a business and infrastructure plan. On the ground. 49 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: Not Paday leads Bigrim's business across Thailand, Malaysia and energy 50 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: and industrial solutions. 51 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 3: The vision is to create an ex generation digital infrastructure 52 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 3: that can service the hyperscalar customers with reliability sustainable energy, 53 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:45,839 Speaker 3: especially for their Eastern Economic Corridors or EEC area, which 54 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 3: has been the top destination for industrial sectors. 55 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: Not per Date says the Eastern Economic Corridor including Chomburry 56 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: stands out because the infrastructure is already there. 57 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 3: Have a readiness of the infrastructure like subse cable, power generation, transmission, distribution, 58 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 3: water management and so on, so it's very well recognized 59 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 3: in the market to be their hub for AI digital infrastructure. 60 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 3: All these projects help Thailand to move beyond being just 61 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 3: a connectivity market to becoming a compute and AI RADI destination. 62 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 1: That thinking is already turning into something concrete. BGRIM and 63 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: Digital Edge have invested one billion dollars in a new 64 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 1: AI focused data center in Chomburry so will. 65 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 3: Be fully in operation by early next year. The good 66 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 3: news is that we have fully contracted with the whole 67 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 3: capacity of the data center with the top tier Hyperscaler, 68 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 3: and we are about to build an additional from what 69 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 3: we have today is to reach the target of three 70 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 3: hundred metawaks within twenty thirty. 71 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: Notepaday It says this is bigger than one site for BGRIM. 72 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: It opens up a wider digital infrastructure business. 73 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 3: We have three areas that we can call invest One 74 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 3: is the hyperscalar and wholesale location data center operator. Second 75 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 3: is the energy platform as a service a last is 76 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 3: on their digital f ingnatrial solutions. 77 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: All of this runs on energy, and as demand grows, 78 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: so does the pressure to build that capacity in a 79 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: cleaner way. Not Padat says this goes beyond one site. 80 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: BGRIM sees opportunities around the data center itself, the energy 81 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: platform behind it, and the digital services industrial customers will need. 82 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 3: Next, we can locate our green energy wherever we can 83 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 3: have the optimal sun radiation or the optimal wind speed 84 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 3: that can generate the ellergricity at best, and we can 85 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 3: transmit it to the site that can be able to 86 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 3: trace where the green energy is coming from. 87 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 1: In other words, not Paday says Bigram wants customers to 88 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: know where that power comes from and how it connects 89 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: to their own climate goals. 90 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 3: But also the load management, the energy management platform that 91 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 3: we actually can serve the customers to have reliable green 92 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 3: energy and very competitive terms of condition altogether. And lastly, 93 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 3: the industrial solution would be become more and more driving 94 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 3: by digital technology that ma be provided to serve inters 95 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 3: of the demand side management, energy efficiency, energy management system 96 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 3: and also enable with the other technology to reduce their 97 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 3: combon emission. 98 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: And that only works if the system behind it is strong. 99 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: Not paday It says Bigrim has spent decades building the 100 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: networks and power supply that support those services. 101 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 3: So over the past thirty years, we have been developing 102 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 3: the largest transmission discrition work with a two hundred kilometers 103 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 3: length of our distribution networks covering eleven in less estates 104 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 3: in Thailand and in Vietnam. 105 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: Notpaday's point is simple. Bigrim already has the energy system, 106 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: the network, and the industrial base. Now it is building 107 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: new tools on top of that foundation so it can 108 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: bring more renewable energy into the mix and respond to 109 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: what customers need next. For doctor Link, that matters beyond 110 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: one company, He says, Thailand needs local businesses that understand 111 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: how to build and run this kind of infrastructure. That 112 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: is the bigger story taking shape here as Thailand builds 113 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: for a more digital future. This is more than a 114 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: data center. It is about ensuring that next generation has 115 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: the skills in infrastructure to compete in the digital economy, 116 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: and for BGRIM, that work is already under way in Chomburry. 117 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: B GRIM empowering the world compassionately