BOI Pushes Thailand as Global Photonics Hub with 82.7B Baht Investment

Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) is actively promoting the country as a primary manufacturing hub for photonics technology, a core foundation for the artificial intelligence digital infrastructure. Over the past five years, from 2021 to June 2026, a total of 79 investment projects have applied for BOI promotion, with a combined value exceeding 82,700 million baht, covering the entire supply chain.

Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the BOI, stated that the rapid expansion of AI, cloud systems, high-performance computing, and high-speed communication networks has driven the critical role of photonics technology. This is due to its capability to transmit massive data volumes using light through optical fibers at high speeds, with low energy consumption and minimal signal loss compared to traditional electrical signals.

Photonics technology refers to the science of using light to transmit, control, and process data. The supported products are categorized into several types:

• Optical Fiber: Serving as the medium for light signal transmission
• Optical Components and Parts: Such as lasers, optical receivers, and signal control devices
• Optical Modules: Converting electrical data into optical signals and vice versa
• Optical Transceivers: Connecting servers, switches, and network equipment inside AI data centers with transmission rates up to 1.6 Terabits per second (1.6T)

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Looking at the investment statistics over the past five years, the 79 projects consist of 12 optical fiber manufacturing projects valued at 13,700 million baht, 47 optical communication parts and equipment projects valued at 19,500 million baht, and 20 complete optical communication product projects valued at 49,400 million baht, demonstrating an integrated domestic supply chain.