AIS broadband network set for Bt40 bn boost
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Advanced Info Service (AIS) will invest more than Bt40 billion this year to expand its wireless and fixed-line broadband networks.
Of that total, about Bt30 billion will be used to expand coverage of its existing third-generation wireless broadband network to 29,000 sites nationwide from 20,000 now, while the rest will be invested on related wireless networks and fixed-line broadband.
AIS has already invested Bt80 billion on expanding its 3G network over the past two years.
“We are chang [Thai for elephant], which is generous and wise, and now we would like to add an ‘e’ to make it ‘change’ to be ready to serve the future needs of Thai people,” company chairman Vithit Leenutaphong said during his “AIS Vision 2015” announcement yesterday.
Chief executive officer Somchai Lertsuttiwong said the announced budget of Bt40 billion did not include the money AIS would set aside for the upcoming 4G spectrum licence auction of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.
Somchai said AIS expected to outpace the rest of the industry this year in every segment.
The total mobile-telecommunications industry is expected to expand by 3 per cent this year to total Bt233 billion, while that of the smartphones and other devices will grow 10 per cent to Bt127 billion, and fixed-line broadband by around 15 per cent to Bt62 billion.
AIS forecasts that this year the industry’s total revenue from voice services will drop by 5 per cent but data revenue will surge by 200 per cent.
With its fixed-line broadband service, AIS aims to reach 10 million homes within five years. Currently, AIS has a fibre-optics network totalling 120,000 kilometres nationwide. There are only 5 million broadband Internet users in Thailand.
This quarter, the firm plans to launch the AIS Play Box, a digital TV-Internet box to be connected to the user’s television set so they can watch any TV content and access data services.
