AIS, TrueMove H kick off marketing campaigns for 4G services

AIS claimed that it was the first in the world to launch “4.5G technology”, while TrueMove H announced it would offer the largest 4G bandwidth, with 55MHz on the 900, 850, 1,800 and 2,100-megahertz spectra to provide service nationwide.

AIS holds licences for the 2.1-gigahertz and 1,800MHz bands, while True group holds licences for 2.1GHz, 1,800MHz and 900MHz. 

AIS said it had 5.6 million 4G users, while True has 4 million and expects that number to reach at least 6 million by the end of this year. Currently AIS has around 39 million mobile-phone subscribers, while True has 20 million.

Suphachai Chearavanont, chief executive of True Corp, said the company would invest Bt58 billion over two years for expansion of the telecom network. Currently there are around 4,000 base stations on the 900MHz network, which will cover 98 per cent of the population by May.

Suphachai said TrueMove H had progressed to the next level after winning auctions for licences on the 1,800MHz and, more recently, the 900MHz frequencies. This achievement was another important step in becoming the best network provider, with nationwide coverage that works well on any frequency. 

Each frequency serves a different type of use. The company’s services can aggregate these frequencies to offer consumers optimal speed and quality, he claimed. 

TrueMove H has also launched new 4G packages.

Yesterday AIS announced the launch of what it called the world’s first commercial 4.5G service, which pushed connection speeds beyond 1 gigabit per second. This was made possible by the Joint Development Centre (JIC), a research and development programme of AIS and Chinese telecom-equipment maker Huawei Technology.

CEO Somchai Lertsutiwong said AIS was harnessing the latest 4.5G innovations arising from the strategic joint development with Huawei. 

Zhou Yuefeng, vice president for wireless at Huawei Technologies, said AIS was a significant strategic partner, with a long-term interrelationship through their cooperation on JIC. 

Zhou said Huawei was pleased to work with AIS to launch 4.5G in Thailand, the first country| in the world to have this technology.