TH-AI Passport gains three telecom backers, NT targets October 1

Thailand’s TH-AI Passport programme has gained support from three mobile operators, with True Corporation planning a basic 29-baht monthly internet package for its AiPASS application, according to information from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society on Tuesday (September 15, 2026). National Telecom (NT) aims to begin marketing its AiPASS service on October 1, 2026.

True and NT are following Advanced Info Service (AIS), which was the first operator to approach the Digital Economy and Society Ministry with a proposal to reduce internet costs for people wanting to use artificial intelligence (AI).

True considers additional benefits for AiPASS package

True is considering additional offers or benefits beyond its proposed basic AiPASS package, with the details and conditions still to be finalised, according to the ministry information.

True’s initial price of 29 baht per month would match the basic level proposed by other participating operators. The package is intended to give True customers another internet option for accessing AiPASS under the government’s TH-AI Passport programme.

AIS proposal follows concerns over students’ data bills

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob previously said the cooperation began after the ministry identified internet costs as a barrier preventing some people from making fuller use of AI. AIS was the first telecommunications operator to offer support in reducing those costs.

Chaichanok said visits outside Bangkok and discussions with MPs and students had revealed interest in using AI, but also concerns about additional internet expenses. The issue was particularly relevant to prepaid customers charged according to their data consumption.

“Many students want to use it, but they are worried about higher internet bills. They already have internet access; it is not that they have none. But when they use AI, data usage rises quickly and consumes quite a lot of bandwidth. That is what led to this internet promotion,” Chaichanok said.

The telecom cooperation is intended to prevent internet costs from becoming an obstacle to learning AI, particularly for school and university students and people outside Bangkok. True and NT’s participation broadens the effort beyond the initial cooperation with AIS.

NT targets October 1 and assesses demand outside Bangkok

Col Sanpachai Huvanandana, president of National Telecom Public Company Limited, said NT had prepared the back-end system and dedicated billing procedures for AiPASS. The company expected the full system to be completed in time to begin marketing the service from October 1, 2026.

Sanpachai said NT, which operates under the supervision of the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, was ready to implement government policy. NT’s expected marketing timetable would be broadly in line with those of other participating mobile operators, he said.

NT has about 1.5 million mobile customers, around 90% of whom use prepaid services, with most customers based outside Bangkok, according to Sanpachai.

NT will assess which customer groups show the greatest interest in AiPASS before deciding how to promote the service. If demand is particularly strong among students in provincial areas, NT plans to organise roadshows at educational institutions to raise awareness and encourage use.