Thailand ‘first’ Asean nation to roll out 5G commercial service
Thailand is the first country in Asean to launch a 5G commercial service, while existing 4G systems are ready to be upgraded to 5G, government deputy spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said.
She said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has encouraged investment in 5G to develop technology and the industrial structure. Fifth-generation connection and technologies would be used in the Eastern Economic Corridor as well as in big cities to turn them into “smart cities”.
Ratchada said the 5G project would commence in 2023 and cover 98 per cent of the population by 2027.
The connection speed is expected to be 100 mbps in municipalities and 50 mbps in other areas. Some 7,000 SMEs are expected to apply 5G technology, and its value is likely to be 6.6 per cent of the country’s GDP.
Moreover, basic education will be able to access about 700,000 digital educational services, which might help raise Thailand’s IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking to number eight.
Meanwhile, 5G innovation research can spur commerce by 50 per cent, she added.