Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor has announced it will unveil a trio of new electric vehicle (EV) models for the Thai market at the Bangkok Motorshow 2022.
The 43rd edition of the auto showcase runs at Impact Muang Thong Thani from March 23 to April 3.
“To celebrate the second year of doing business in Thailand, in 2022 we will bring three new models of EVs from China to the Thai market,” said the company.
“They will be debuted at the Bangkok Motorshow this month. The Ora Black Cat and Ora Good Cat GT sport EV will be available in Thailand from the second quarter onward, while the TANK 300 SUV, which is a hybrid EV, will be available around year-end.”
Great Wall Motor (GWM) said it will also showcase its currently available fleet of EVs so enthusiasts can get a closer look. These include the HAVAL H6 Plug-in Hybrid, HAVAL H6 Hybrid, HAVAL JOLION Hybrid and the ORA Good Cat.
GWM said all its EVs feature the company’s intelligent driving technology, international safety standards. It also promised special deals for those who reserve a vehicle at the Motorshow.
The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) in cooperation with PTT Plc, developer of the pilot smart city “Wangchan Valley”, recently invited the new generation of city developers to visit the project located in Wangchan district of Rayong province to gain hands-on experience of smart city development.
The project lies in the heart of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
“Smart city” is a term we have probably heard quite frequently in recent times. It is a concept that Thailand is embracing under the government’s Thailand 4.0 policy, which focuses on utilising digital technology to improve the quality of life of people.
Wangchan Valley, also known as Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation Project, is a pilot initiate of PTT Pcl and the National Science and Technology Development Agency on 3,454 rai (approximately 553 hectares) of land in Rayong province since early 2021. Wangchan Valley uses seven smart city concepts certified by Depa to develop the city as one of the best smart cities offering an innovation ecosystem in Southeast Asia.
Passakon Prathombutr, executive vice president at Depa, said: “City developers need to understand all aspects of urban setting, be they the people, the community, their way of life and the unique identity of each city. This is the origin of our project to create “Smart City Ambassadors”, or new generation city developers who have hands-on experience in city development with focus on the use of digital technology.”
“After completing the tour, these ambassadors will be able to adapt new technologies to their own projects as well as come up with innovative ways of improving urban life quality,” he added.
Passakon added that the uniqueness of Wangchan Valley, which makes it exemplary as a smart city, is that it is based on seven smart city concepts certified by Depa. They are: smart environment, smart mobility, smart people, smart living, smart economy, smart governance, and smart energy.
“Wangchan Valley aims to be a pilot smart city that helps convert Thailand’s traditional industry into the new target industry, or new S-Curve, under the Thailand 4.0 national strategy, and to help improve both economy and quality of life through innovation, knowledge and technology,” he added.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Friday launched a mobile application enabling patients to book appointments and check their records at public hospitals across the capital.
The “BMA Doctor” app will offer the services to around 4 million people registered at 11 hospitals, Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said at the launch on Friday. It will also enable users to contact the Bangkok Emergency Medical Centre for urgent Covid-19 treatment or information.
The aim is to combat the spread of Covid by reducing the need for people to make hospital visits. The new app would help people connect with medical services more easily, Aswin said.
The app will offer access to services at the following 11 hospitals by the end of March:
BMA General Hospital (Klang Hospital)
Taksin Hospital
Charoen Krung Pracharak Hospital
Sirindhorn Hospital
Luang Phor Taweesak Chutinataro Uthit Hospital
Wetchakarunrasm Hospital
Lat Krabang Hospital
Ratchaphiphat Hospital
Bang Khun Thian Geriatric Hospital
Khlong Sam Wa Hospital
Bang Na Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Hospital
Kattiya Indaravijaya, CEO of the app’s developer, KBANK, said demand for medical services is increasing due to Covid-19, Bangkok’s rising population and the ageing society
BMA Doctor allows users to book an appointment with a doctor, check their universal coverage scheme, check queue status, register for diagnosis, check their medical history, and receive diagnosis results.
It also enables online video consultation with doctors.
A host of tech companies have limited distribution of Russian news outlets RT and Sputnik and blocked advertising as the European Commission readies a ban on the two out of concern that they are spreading misinformation.
Alphabet parent Google said on Tuesday that it had blocked mobile apps connected to RT and Sputnik on the Play Store, after removing the Russian state publishers.
Facebook owner Meta, YouTube and TikTok have said they are blocking access to RT and Sputnik in the European Union.
On Tuesday, Meta said it was globally demoting posts from Russian state media.
Meanwhile, Twitter said it would comply with sanctions on the two news outlets when the EU order takes effect.
“The European Union sanctions will likely legally require us to withhold certain content in EU member states,” Twitter told Reuters.
Outside the EU, it would continue to focus on reducing the visibility of these outlets and put a warning label on them.
Apple said on Tuesday that RT and Sputnik were no longer available on its App Store outside Russia.
The 43rd Bangkok International Motor Show will be held from March 23 to April 3 at Impact, Muang Thong Thani.
Grand Prix International CEO Prachin Eamlumnow said the motor show will feature cars and motorcycles from 36 brands – Ford, BMW, Mini, Mercedes-Benz, Great Wall Motors, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Maserati, Peugeot, Jeep, Toyota, Lexus, MG, Mazda, Suzuki, Isuzu, Hyundai, Audi, Honda, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Volvo, Porsche, Bentley, Kia, Subaru, Takano, Thai Honda Manufacturing, Suzuki Motosales, Yamaha, BMW Motorrad, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Bajaj, KTM and Husqvarna.
The highlight will be 20 electric vehicles (EV) models, including the Audi e-tron, Audi e-tron Sportback, Audi e-tron GT, BMW iX, BMW iX3, BMW i4, Lexus UX 300e, Mercedes-Benz EQS, MG EP Plus, Mini Cooper SE, Nissan Leaf, Ora Good Cat, Porsche Taycan, Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, Volvo XC40 Pure Electric and Volvo C40 Pure Electric.
An EV Smart City zone will display accessories for electric vehicle users. The zone is supported by government agencies to teach EV owners about how to install charging accessories.
Meanwhile, PTT subsidiary Arun Plus will participate in the event for the first time to present its EV platform for the new generation, EV accessories and business related to such vehicles.
The concept of the event this year is “Keep Moving Forward Together”. The exhibition will also use the metaverse for the first time in a move to help visitors easily decide what vehicle they would like to buy and to conveniently take a test drive.
The event is certified under SHA standards. Visitors must present evidence of being fully vaccinated.
DTAC on Wednesday unveiled its “DTAC Beyond”, the new version of its application, that is available for users from every network.
The Beyond Mobile Connectivity services for the contemporary digital era are: dtac Safe, dtac Gaming SIM, and Pay Via dtac.
DTAC is collaborating with leading brands to offer three new categories of digital services: protection, gaming, and finance services and platform.
The company said dtac Safe is a cyber-security service, certified by the European Cybersecurity Standard for protection against cyber attacks. It guards against malware that infects user data, blocks ransomware that hackers often use to hold valuable data hostage, and identifies phishing scams that aim to steal your sensitive information.
It works not only while your mobile device is on the DTAC network but also when you are connected to Wi-Fi anywhere in the world, the company said.
The dtac Gaming SIM is a SIM card for gamers.
It is the first and only platform of its kind that welcomes more than 32 million Thai gamers from all networks, the company said.
DTAC is also offering a solution to unify all bills that need to be paid with Pay Via dtac, with no credit card required. A One-Time-Password will authenticate each online transaction.
The new DTAC App supports four different languages – Thai, English, Burmese, and Cambodian – and serves as a hub for digital lifestyle, products, and services that customers can browse, select and pay – all through one app, the company said.
For users who do not wish to download and install the app on their mobile phones, DTAC also offer web-based dtac Lite, which works just like the standard app.
The new DTAC App also harnesses the power of AI technology to enhance user experience and user interface designs and offer personalsation of lifestyle services, the company said.
DTAC’s chief marketing officer How Lih Ren said, “DTAC is confident of achieving our goal of 10 million digital users. More importantly, we are future ready to drive the evolution of telco-tech Industry, beyond our past as a conventional telecom operator.”
Evlomo Technologies has secured a valuation of US$210 million (THB6.85 billion) in its latest round of funding and will roll out a super-fast DC charging network across Thailand from this year, the firm said in press release.
The move aims to alleviate range anxiety among EV drivers and help make the experience of driving and charging an electric vehicle convenient.
The latest investment from Deer Isle Group in the company comes as the transition to electric mobility accelerates in Thailand.
Deer Isle is a fintech investment banking and advisory firm based in New York, which has raised more than $5 billion in capital since its founding, the press release said.
Evlomo is also creating an 8 GWH battery plant in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor with an investment of $1.2 billion under a separate unit, to cover all aspects of e-mobility.
“The rapid growth of EVs in the coming years will necessitate greater charging infrastructure,” said the CEO/president and founder of Deer Isle Group, Dianna Raedle, who will join the Evlomo board. “Evlomo Technologies has the early advantage in building an EV charging network in Thailand, one of the largest auto markets in the world, providing easy access to EV drivers, and Deer Isle is proud to be a part of its growth journey,” she added.
Thailand has a goal of seeing 1 million EVs on its roads by 2025, with 15 million expected 10 years from now.
Evlomo is focused on addressing the EV charging infrastructure needs of the rapidly growing electric vehicle segment in Thailand and is working in line with the government’s vision of making Thailand the EV hub of the region, the press release added.
“We are working hard to make it easy for electric vehicle drivers to access EV charging stations,” Evlomo CEO Nicole Wu said.
To support energy sustainability and the use of clean energy vehicles, the Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU) has installed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in and around campus for personal and public vehicles. Up to 27 EV charging stations are now open for service across Samyan and Siam Square areas, enough to simultaneously charge 87 vehicles at a time.
Associate Professor Wisanu Subsompon, Vice President for Property and Physical Resources Management, Chulalongkorn University, said that car users today are more conscious about the environment and are opting for the more environmentally-friendly electric vehicles.
“Electric cars can help reduce air pollution, lessen the greenhouse effect from carbon emissions, and cut down the airborne PM 2.5 released from exhausts of petrol or diesel cars,” he said. “The project to install EV charging stations on campus is a part of the more extensive SAMYAN SmartCity project, which aims to develop the areas in and around Chulalongkorn University into a comfortable and livable city. The vision is to create value for the community and society, blend people’s quality of life with businesses, and work for a sustainable highest and best use for the livelihood of all.”
Set on providing convenience for EV users and people in the community, PMCU has fully supported the EV charging station installations in the Samyan and Siam Square areas. To date, 27 EV charging stations housing 87 chargers are in place, with 70 chargers using alternating current (AC) and 17 using direct current (DC).
The charging stations are distributed strategically across the university and neighboring areas, including the recently opened SIAMSCAPE, Chula Bookstore, the parking lot behind Siam Square One, Novotel Hotel, MBK Center, Chamchuri Square, Block 28, CU Terrace, CU Centenary Park, CU Sport Zone, Dragon Town, Samyan Mitrtown, and the PTT Station on Rama 4 Road.
Kaspersky Lab, a Moscow-based cybersecurity provider, is urging companies and organisations to keep their guard up as cybercriminals are now prioritising “quality over quantity”.
Yeo Siang Tiong, Kaspersky’s general manager for Southeast Asia, said recently that cybercriminals are cutting down on large-scale attacks. He said the company tracked down 17.2 million web threats in 2021 against internet users in Thailand, which was 16.42 per cent lower than the 20.6 million web threats in 2020.
However, 32.70 per cent or a third of Thai internet users were affected by cybercriminals in 2021.
Thailand ranks 95th globally when it comes to dangers associated with the internet.
Yeo said web browsers are a key method for spreading malicious software, as hackers exploit vulnerabilities in browsers and plug-ins.
He said that the trend of web threats over the past five years in Thailand has been interesting. In 2017, there were 12.6 million internet-based threats, which rose to 30.2 million in 2018. However, the number has been gradually falling since then.
The number of local threats is also reducing, he said.
Kaspersky found 33.21 million local threats in 2021 from networks based in Thailand, or 33.53 per cent less than the nearly 50 million threats in 2020. He added that some 40.5 per cent of Thai internet users are attacked by local cybercriminals.
Back-door entry
Globally, some 380,000 new malicious files enter the system, which is 5.7 higher than in 2021.
Around 91 per cent of these threats occur via WindowsPE files – a file format that is specific to Windows operating systems.
Cybercriminals have also started attacking Linux operating systems more than ever, with 57 per cent more malware and malicious software being found.
Kaspersky believes cybercriminals will shift from large-scale attacks to more stealthy, complicated attacks that do greater damage.
Recently, Thailand’s public and private sectors, especially financial institutions, have been teaching users of tricks and cyber risks they should look out for.
Training sessions have also been held for customers and personnel to protect themselves from cyberattacks.
Tips to stay safe
Kaspersky continues advising internet users to not download or install applications for unreliable sources. Users are also advised to not click on any unknown links and suspicious online advertisements. Instead, it said, users should create strong and unique passwords that contain both upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Users should also use two-factor authentication.
Kaspersky also recommends that users keep all programs updated to solve security issues and ignore messages that ask them to turn off security software.
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry and Huawei Technologies (Thailand) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in Government Cloud.
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry and Huawei Technologies (Thailand) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in Government Cloud.
The move aims to improve the operational effectiveness of digital governance to strengthen the country’s digital competitiveness, as well as utilise the Huawei Talent development programme to support professional digital skills training for Thai government experts within three years. The aim is to jointly build a thriving cloud ecosystem as the foundation of Thailand’s digital economy and society.
“On behalf of the DES Ministry, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone whose dedication and efforts have contributed towards the finalisation of this MoU, especially the Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission and Huawei Technologies Thailand,” DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said.
He said the Thai government has been working on transforming towards a digital government with cloud-first policy as one of its top priorities.
He added that the DES Ministry and Huawei Technologies (Thailand) have been working together to drive cloud technology, innovative research, Big Data management as well as develop the digital workforce.
“Through the establishment of the Joint Software Innovation Centre, our government officers will upskill and expand their knowledge on cloud technologies,” he said.
He said Thailand has become a leader of 5G technology in the Asean region, adding that the cloud is the key factor in enabling Thailand to become a digital hub.
“In the near future, I expect to see Thai people being able to access government services through all devices,” he added.
Aims of the MoU
The first MoU was signed in November 2017, but the purpose of the recent MoU between the DES and Huawei is to continuously deepen cloud cooperation and cooperate on initiatives surrounding research and innovation, as well as talent development.
The collaboration aims to accelerate cloud-based deployment and migration of government services, and continuously reduce costs, as well as enhance efficiency of public services by improving and transforming public services
“I’d like to thank Huawei for its continuous and professional support during this process,” Chaiwut said.
“We will support government cloud to further evolve to ‘data-centric’ and promote the inter-department data flow.
“Additionally, we will collaborate on the development of Government Cloud infrastructure – using Huawei’s advanced cloud technologies, including Big Data, AI and IoT [Internet of Things] to offer greater breadth and depth of services to Thai government agencies and society.”
Key ideas in the MoU
The DES minister highlighted that the MoU would include a three-year training pillar to enhance digital talents for cloud, Big Data, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things competency, and upskill up to 2,000 Thai government personnel in critical technology areas that can be utilised to drive the economy and society.
“The collaboration will also extend into public cloud infrastructure to support the more comprehensive demands of users in Thai government, leveraging advanced cloud services and building public services applications in Government Cloud,” Chaiwut said.
Finally, both parties will aim to foster the ecosystem beyond government agencies, including with industry partners, startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and universities, to integrate vertical industry solutions.
“With Huawei Cloud’s 20,000 global partners, the DES and Huawei will cooperate with all of these partners to build an open, collaborative, and development-leading digital ecosystem,” Chaiwut added.
Huawei’s growth goal
Huawei Technologies (Thailand) CEO Abel Deng said: “We are highly grateful and inspired by the Thai government’s continuous support and trust in Huawei. As a technology-leading and trusted ICT partner, Huawei Cloud has been providing services for more than three years in Thailand, empowering more than 300 local partners for over 15 industries.
“We are proud to be the first global cloud provider to build AZ in Thailand and the only company with three local AZs here,” he said.
As a continuous social value contributor, he said Huawei has continuously strengthened its commitment to the country’s talent and startup ecosystem through various initiatives, including Huawei Spark Ignite competition, Huawei Asean Academy, and Seeds for Future.
“We believe that with today’s milestone, we can jointly accelerate Thailand’s cloud-based deployment and digital economy, driving the country to become the Asean digital hub and in a fully connected and intelligent world,” he said.
Huawei Cloud’s major strengths
Abel reiterated Huawei Cloud’s major strengths in the market, particularly as the only global public cloud provider with three data centres in Thailand, meaning businesses in Thailand can operate on Huawei Cloud with higher service availability and lower latency, as well as safeguarding and storing sensitive data within the country under Thailand law.
Further, he emphasised that Huawei’s secured public cloud services have been accepted worldwide and validated by more than 90 global certificates, including ISO27701, ISO29151, ISO27018 and Cloud Security Alliance – Security, Trust & Assurance Registry, which relate to Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act, and highlighted the strength of Huawei Cloud’s local team that works seamlessly with global resources.
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