Broadband revolution

Source: Bangkok Post, ThailandDec.存倉 31--After two decades of delay, Thailand's first real third-generation mobile broadband service became available in 2013 as the three major mobile operators started under the licensing regime.The moves marked a sea change in Thailand's telecom history, bringing an end to the decades-old concession regime and highlighting what will be a permanent shift in the mobile landscape.A 3G service on the international standard 2.1-gigahertz frequency has finally come to Bangkok and major provinces as Advanced Info Service, Total Access Communication (DTAC) and True Move have rolled out their full commercial 3G services.The technology drastically increases internet speed by 300 times over the 2G system, while the number of internet users in the country, which currently sits at 26 million, most of whom use narrowband mobile internet, are increasingly switching to high-speed wireless broadband because of the proliferation of smartphones in Thailand.These hungry new 3G users are raising local mobile operators' profits. Operators described the take-up of 3G services as running hot, evidenced by the strong growth of mobile data traffic and heavy sales of smartphones and tablets here.The number of mobile internet users surged to almost 40 million this year out of 90 million total mobile users in the country. 儲存obile data traffic skyrocketed by over 100%.Many expect 3G and 4G to increase internet penetration in rural areas as well, with studies indicating with every 10% of internet penetration in a country, its GDP can improve by 3-5%.Local mobile service revenue this year rose by 8.1% to 188 billion, with 127 billion for voice revenue and 60.9 billion from non-voice.Mobile service revenue is projected to grow by 7.2% to 205 billion baht in 2014, with 123 billion from voice service and 82 billion from non-voice services. The voice service market is predicted to contract by 3.1% next year, while the non-voice service market is estimated to grow by 35.2%.Thailand's telecom market grew by 5.2% to 466 billion baht in 2013 and is projected to grow by 8.4% to 505 billion in 2014 as the take-up of commercial 3G service and mobile internet appear to be fully viable.The country's mobile handset market is projected to grow by 13.4% to 77.7 billion baht in 2014, up from 68.5 billion this year, which was an increase of 5.2% from 2012.Operators vow to widen their 3G networks in provincial areas this year, and with strong competition 3G service charges could fall next year too.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) Visit the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) at .bangkokpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉