The Cabinet of Thailand approved a US$146.6 million state cloud and data center service to be funded over the next two years, reported the Bangkok Post.

The Government Data Center and Cloud service will be used by government agencies to ensure safe and secure use of data. The big data facility will make sure state agencies can continue operating when disasters occur and meet the state policy to forge a “digital government”.

The service approved on 5 May will be handled by the Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission in partnership with Thailand’s state-owned telecommunications company CAT Telecom.

The Deputy Government Spokeswoman, Rachada Dhanadirek, said the government will employ 2,500 experts in cloud computing to operate the Data Center and Cloud service. The cloud also aims to provide cloud computing courses for more than 2,500 government officials.

With a state-run cloud service, Ms Rachada expects US$154.3 million will be saved on renting cloud services. From 2021, all Government agencies will not be able to rent cloud services with the aim of fully digitising all agencies within three years.

As part of Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society initiative to modernise Government data centers, three types of data centers were defined: agency owned data centers, ministry data centers and cross-agency data centers. The plan looks to reduce overall government spending and cost of operations as well as ensure the Government is future ready.

At our Thailand Cloud and Datacenter Convention last year, Dr Yuttasart Nitipaichit, the Vice President of CAT Telecom representing the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, revealed Government plans to digitally transform the country with 100 smart cities by 2021.