The government of RI (Indonesia) is empowering young minds through visual coding training, as part of its commitment to nurturing technological literacy and innovation. This initiative is part of a broader regional trend, where countries are looking to leverage technology to drive growth and solve socio-environmental problems.

One such example is the Indoor Distributed Antenna System (DAS) market in the Asia-Pacific region, which has been experiencing significant growth. This is driven by the rising demand for seamless wireless connectivity, the expansion of smart city initiatives, and the rapid adoption of 5G-ready infrastructure. The market, valued at $2.47 billion in 2023, is projected to reach $6.46 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 10.09%. This optimistic outlook is based on accelerated 5G rollouts and increased integration of DAS with Wi-Fi 6 and private LTE networks.

However, the technology landscape in the region is not without its challenges. Malaysia, for instance, is expected to face difficulties in developing artificial intelligence (AI) data centres due to US export restrictions on AI chips. Under these new restrictions, Malaysia has been classified as a Tier 2 country, along with Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. These countries have limited and controlled access to advanced AI technology exports. Despite these hurdles, the restrictions are not expected to impact the overall development of Malaysia’s data centre ecosystem, as they do not affect other data centre operations such as transaction services, e-commerce, and data storage which do not rely on AI chips or advanced AI technology.

Another crucial area where technology is making its mark is in the protection of coastal ecosystems. Coastal ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and mangrove forests, are of paramount importance for a significant portion of the world’s population that lives near coastlines. For these populations, particularly in Asia, the wellbeing of coastal ecosystems has become a leading catalyst for both innovation and investment. Technology is seen as key to the future of these ecosystems and mangrove development, with Southeast Asia being home to approximately 42 percent of the world’s total mangrove forests. Indonesia, in particular, houses approximately 20 percent of the world’s mangroves. These ecosystems provide crucial breeding habitats for nearly 75 percent of marine species in the region.

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