The partners led by TKC chief executive Sayam Tiewtranon, second from left, and three Europe-based tech companies enter a cooperative MoU to cash in on smart airports and smart city solutions in the country. (Photo supplied)

SET-listed digital solutions provider Turnkey Communication Services (TKC) is joining forces with three European technology companies to tap smart building and smart city development in Thailand, in line with the government's digital transformation roadmap.

The partnership aims to provide integrated solutions for people flow management systems embedded with 3D sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms. The potential capital market for smart city development in Thailand is worth 20 billion baht this year, according to TKC.

The three European companies comprise 3D passenger flow management system provider Xovis AG, IMAS AS Group, a software house for sensors and counting people, and AI and machine learning analytics platform provider Bumbee Labs.

Sayam Tiewtranon, chief executive and managing director of TKC, said the move complements the company's smart development of three airports worth 300 million baht: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket.

TKC delivered phase one of the smart airport solution development project for the three airports last year. The development was made through a collaboration contract between TKC and Xovis.

On Thursday, TKC entered into a memorandum of understanding with the three European partners to cash in on expansion of solutions development for smart airports, smart buildings and smart cities.

IMAS AS Group is an expert in inventing data storage software to process data. IMAS AS Group has been a strategic partner with Xovis for more than 10 years.

Bumbee Labs is an expert in AI, machine learning and WiFi technology that enables analytics and predictions about people flow for public areas and areas within the building. Bumbee Labs is an affiliated company and co-developing partner of IMAS AS.

Mr Sayam said smart buildings and smart cities are core to the development of Thailand in line with the digital transformation trend.

He said much digital infrastructure has been installed as fundamental infrastructure nationwide by both telecom companies and state projects such as Net Pracharat broadband internet for villages.

In the past few years, Mr Sayam said TKC was awarded an infrastructure installation project serving smart city development in Phuket province with a 200-million-baht investment.

Recently, the company signed a 200-million-baht contract with Dhanarak Asset Development, which will develop the smart building phase 1 for the government centre on Chaeng Watthana Road, focusing on access-control as well as security and energy-saving systems.

The solutions development for the government centre is seen as an initiative of the group's smart building business roadmap.

"The core competency of the partnership is that it could provide tailored solutions serving a variety of demands for smart buildings and smart cities through real-time passenger flow management systems, both 3D tech and WiFi based solutions," Mr Sayam said.

TKC now provides eight smart solutions to the market, ranging from smart hospitals and smart buildings to smart farming, smart logistics and smart learning.

Rupert Paris, chief executive of Xovis, said the firm provides tailored platforms for passenger flow management services in airports, consisting of 3D intelligent sensors and software designed specifically for the management to count the flow of passengers. The systems have been successfully installed in 110 airports around the world.

Xovis's headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland.

Staffan Liljestrand, founder of Bumbee Labs, said smart building and smart city development has high potential in Thailand as the country envisions itself being a high value-added, sustainable and green economy as set out in the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan.

Thailand also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20-25% by 2030.

Despite the economic slowdown, Mr Sayam said the post-pandemic market has greater potential for digital infrastructure investment, as well as digital solution demand such as solutions for public safety.

Thank you : Bangkok Post