True Internet Data Centre, a subsidiary of True Corporation, says it is close to finalising a joint venture deal with a leading global internet data centre (IDC) company to construct a multi-billion-baht IDC facility in the eastern provinces of Thailand.
The expansion by Thailand's leading IDC service provider aims to accommodate rapidly rising demand for cloud-based services and IDC, said general manager Janewit Kraprayoon.
Construction of the new IDC is expected to be completed next year, and commercial service could begin in 2016.
Mr Janewit said True is in talks with a global IDC firm about a possible partnership. The deal is expected to be settled by May but he declined to elaborate on the details.
True already applied for investment promotion incentives for its new IDC facility with the Board of Investment under a joint venture model. To be eligible for the incentives, the size of the IDC must not be less than 5,000 square metres.
Mr Janewit said True plans to spend 200 million baht on expanding its two existing IDC facilities this year to serve increasing demand.
True IDC provides internet data service as a facility to host customers’ computer servers and systems, allowing users to work on their systems without having to invest in their own facilities.
The company has one IDC facility located on Ratchadaphisek Road and another in Muang Thong Thani, with a combined capacity of 4,500 sq m serving 400 enterprise customers.
True IDC reported revenue of 390 million baht in 2013, an increase of 20% from 2012.
True claims to be the leader in the local IDC service market, followed by TCC Technology and CAT Telecom.
Mr Janewit said the company is also focusing more on back-up site service to serve growing corporate awareness of disaster risks and to prevent possible business disruptions.