SMEs, provincial markets to help drive ICT industry this year

Intel Microelectronics (Thailand) is focusing on two market segments this year, individual consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises, said country manager Sontiya Nujeenseng. 

New devices and the government’s “digital economy” policy should drive spending on information and communications technology, especially in the SME sector, since these businesses need ICT to enhance operational efficiency. 

Intel expects strong growth in the ICT market this year, especially personal computers (desktops and notebooks), tablets and smartphones. The International Data Corporation (IDC) expects the PC market this year to grow by 4-5 per cent. However, Intel forecasts that the PC market in Thailand will surpass that level. 

Sontiya added that this year Intel had been expanding its central processing units from PCs into smartphones and tablets. 

“Last year, we had a local-brand tablet launched in the Thai market. We will see a few local-brand tablets come on to the market this year. Tablets are a big enough market to accommodate newcomers, especially if the government strongly promotes a digital economy,” Sontiya said.

 

Strengthening its business

Cisco Systems’ managing director for Thailand and Indochina, Vatsun Thirapatarapong, said the company’s business plan for 2015 was to focus on expanding in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, while strengthening its business in Thailand’s provincial markets. 

Within three years, Cisco Thailand will become the firm’s regional hub in Indochina. Meanwhile, within the same three-year period, one-fourth of Cisco Thailand’s revenue will be from the provinces, up from less than 10 per cent now. 

He added that this year, the company was focusing on telecommunications; vertical industries including banking, utilities and the energy industry; and mega-projects. 

The company will provide solutions designed specifically to serve the vertical industries such as smart metering and smart grids for the energy area. “In upcountry markets, we will work more actively with our partners, both distributors and dealers, to provide solutions including security, videoconferencing and data centres, to help SMEs increase productivity and competitiveness,” Vatsun said.