Digital Infrastructure and Renewable Electricity Profiles in ASEAN: A Data-Driven Comparative Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65310/wg34zw21Keywords:
ASEAN, broadband, digital infrastructure, renewable electricity, technology–energy transitionAbstract
This study develops a comparative technology–energy profile of ten ASEAN economies using fixed broadband subscriptions, renewable electricity generation, and annual GDP per capita growth. Rather than estimating causal relationships from a small cross-sectional population, the study applies standardized-distance profiling to identify country configurations and examine how digital connectivity, renewable electricity penetration, and short-run economic dynamics coexist. The dataset combines internationally comparable indicators from the International Telecommunication Union, World Bank, Ember, and Our World in Data, using the most recent comparable observations available for 2024–2025. Each indicator is standardized through z-scores, and countries are classified according to their Euclidean distance from analytically defined reference profiles. The results identify three empirical configurations characterized by different combinations of connectivity, renewable electricity, and economic growth. Viet Nam displays relatively strong performance across all three dimensions, while Laos combines very high renewable electricity penetration with limited fixed broadband infrastructure. Singapore and Brunei demonstrate relatively strong connectivity alongside comparatively low renewable electricity shares. The findings indicate that digital infrastructure and energy transition are interconnected but non-equivalent dimensions requiring differentiated comparative analysis.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Yassine HADDIOUI, Ahmad Budi Trisnawan, Irwandi Rizki Putra, Mazahir Hussain (Author)
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