Bangkok Candidates Committed To Turning The City Into A High-Tech Capital

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Candidates make big IT promises
Asina Pornwasin

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok is not only Thailand's capital, but is also fast becoming an IT capital. For instance, people living in Bangkok have been the quickest in the word to adopt social media, and in just a few years it has more than 12 million Facebook users - ranking it as one of the highest in the world. Jakarta comes in a close second with 11.6 million users followed by London and Mumbai.

Therefore, it is only natural that Bangkok candidates show they are committed to turning the city into a high-tech capital.

Last week, Democrat candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra (@Sukhumbhand) unveiled the Mayar application and his i-Bangkok concept. He also promised to continue offering free Wi-Fi at 45,000 sites across the city, especially schools, libraries and public parks.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Suharit Siamwalla (@suharit) brought together some 40 IT professionals to discuss what technological advancements are needed to improve the quality of life of Bangkok people.

He has come up with an "Open Bangkok, Open Public Data" concept for Bangkok and is calling on residents to help. His plan is to connect with Bangkokians via social media, and many residents appear to be interested.

At an event held at LaunchPad on Silom Road, Suharit explained his policies and here are some offers made by his supporters. @jakrapong offered full support for all collaborations, while @iwhale offered the use of the BKK 360 application, which can be downloaded at www.bkk360.in.th and is available on both iOS and Android platforms.

Some supporters also offered additional ideas. @popclub_CEO suggested that the national ID card be turned into a smart card that can be used to access services and information, while @sresuda suggested that an application that is "just right" for Bangkokians be created.

Separately, people had this to say when asked what they wanted from the new Bangkok governor:

Buranii Chandraparnik said she wanted an application that will help Bangkokians track the implementation of policies so people can see first-hand if the governor is committed, adding that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) should also utilise data and information technology more widely. Other Bangkokians want the BMA to introduce a smart card or new ticketing system that can be used on all forms of public transport, including taxies.

Hopefully, by March 3 we will be able to find out who is going to be the new governor and what sort of IT policy he will implement.


-- The Nation 2013-02-23

[BrianCR]

I've got to get it first - Bangkok the HUB of high tech (we even have western toilets, some with running water!)

[jamhar]

Hard to do, reading by candle light.

[Locationthailand]

Hard to make such stupid clams when internet connection is spasmodic, slow, outdated telephony networks still being used and way behind the world in tech support. Similarly lack of English (the global language) for international connectivity probably means Thailand simply has the most 'games' users. An IT 'hub'? I doubt it.

[Skywalker69]

They have to hurry before Bangkok is under water.

[pumpuiman]

The internet will be instrumental in the demise of the corrupt politics that persists here. Making real time, non edited information available to the general public, as well as a window on the "real world" being opened, will come back and bite these crooks in the butt.

Bangkok an IT center? Not under the current administration .....but look out for the kids who now know the truth about the world...they will bring real change to Thailand.

[Ricardo]

If they want to make somewhere in Thailand hi-tech, wouldn't it be better, to make sure it's somewhere which doesn't flood & isn't sinking into the waves, instead ?

Ostriches, when they stick their heads in the sand, would surely notice that it was increasingly-wet sand ? !

[Buchholz]

Hard to make such stupid claims when internet connection is spasmodic, slow, outdated telephony networks still being used and way behind the world in tech support.

An IT 'hub'? I doubt it.

.

Whatever became of the Pheu Thai Party's 30,000,000,000.00 Baht allocated for their proclamation of Free, Nation-wide WiFi?

.

[Buchholz]

Hard to do, reading by candle light.

.

and then there's that.

Electricity agencies scramble to avert April blackouts

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621241-electricity-agencies-scramble-to-avert-april-blackouts-increase-reserves-thailand/

.

[espinoza]

Did they consider the Thai sencor of the internet?

[dp4868]

More likely to be just a copy of the IT hub

[Fozfromoz]

Hard to make such stupid claims when internet connection is spasmodic, slow, outdated telephony networks still being used and way behind the world in tech support.

An IT 'hub'? I doubt it.

.

Whatever became of the Pheu Thai Party's 30,000,000,000.00 Baht allocated for their proclamation of Free, Nation-wide WiFi?

.

[eddie61]

I've got to get it first - Bangkok the HUB of high tech (we even have western toilets, some with running water!)

more hubbub from the hubhub,

[1weatherman]

12 million Facebook users and and counting and Thailand/Bangkok govt.wants more. Just means more employees standing or sitting around doing social networks and not actually working. Umm. Guess it's just a high-tech new way to not gets things done here in Thailand.

[akampa]

cant match any of the above for humour but an IT hub" elephants have more chance of flying

[youngXpat]

I've got to get it first - Bangkok the HUB of high tech (we even have western toilets, some with running water!)

Yes it would seem to another HUB to add to the already long list of HUBS!

[youngXpat]

12 million Facebook users and and counting and Thailand/Bangkok govt.wants more. Just means more employees standing or sitting around doing social networks and not actually working. Umm. Guess it's just a high-tech new way to not gets things done here in Thailand.

Also the topic of another thread I believe

[drdoom6996]

Just another sound bytes for the masses.

[RisqEM]

Most new social media accounts for this....mister, you so handsome na! Send me money na...my mom sick and dad old, need whiskey. You nice guy

[PaullyW]

I don't know. Becoming a tech hub is not as simple as logging onto a social networking website. Rather it requires a couple of things that Thais and the their education system currently lack: open mindedness, analytical/critical thinking, and an interest in the world outside of Thailand.

Certainly not something that can be sorted quickly.

[chainarong]

As pointed out there's quiet a few problems to creating a IT hub, not with standing location ,location , location also you need to know binary maths I say no more.

[animatic]

Hub of Hookers using social media to find clients,

and maintain long distance clients.

Hub of off-shore wire transfers from hooker's clients to the lil darlings back accounts.

Hub of kids so addicted to gaming in internet cafes, that they die in their chairs,

or shoot their mothers for trying to shut them down for dinner.

Hub of outdated technologies in business, not being upghraded because

bosses might lose face if they are told by underlings that their

5 year old purchase decision is now 2 years off the game.

Hub of Intelectual property software piracy.

Hub of Internet Blocking by governments to protect their populace from sex

and certain phrases that might shake up the status quo.Yet does sod all to

keep their children from networking their asses to the highest bidder.

Hub of absurd technological claims by techno-inept politicians.

Edited February 23, 2013 by animatic

[muttley]

Hard to make such stupid claims when internet connection is spasmodic, slow, outdated telephony networks still being used and way behind the world in tech support.

An IT 'hub'? I doubt it.

.

Whatever became of the Pheu Thai Party's 30,000,000,000.00 Baht allocated for their proclamation of Free, Nation-wide WiFi?

.

Well I could be mistaken in thinking they're just getting on and doing it but having to rely on TOT Public Company, CAT Telecom, and Thailand’s mobile network providers to do so, 20,000 free hotspots in Bangkok at the moment. Currently 200,000 free hotspots nationwide, 250,000 planned by 2015. 80% of Thailand will have coverage, 40% coverage as of December 2012.

Then there's the Worlds longest WiFi mesh network (372Kms) for flood monitoring put in by the RID. The first free Wi Fi school, Wat Nam Daeng School, is in Samut Prakharn Province.

So quite a lot is going on with the 30 Billion Baht project. If you can get past your sneering attitude you can find out more here:

http://thailand.prd.go.th/view_news.php?id=6070&a=4

http://www.muniwireless.com/2012/12/16/thailand-expands-free-wifi-network/

http://www.muniwireless.com/2012/11/05/radical-use-of-wifi-monitoring-flood-levels/

http://www.unpan.org/PublicAdministrationNews/tabid/115/mctl/ArticleView/ModuleID/1467/articleId/35150/Default.aspx

[OzMick]

Could we have a quick poll to see how many TVF users have access to free wi-fi? As we are scattered across the country, and it is claimed 40% of the country is covered, the numbers should reflect that.

Koh Samui - NO

[techboy]

As pointed out there's quiet a few problems to creating a IT hub, not with standing location ,location , location also you need to know binary maths I say no more.

Before you "say no more..." you need to say something...

[techboy]

cant match any of the above for humour but an IT hub" elephants have more chance of flying

IT in Thailand is evolving quite well so far and a lot of investors are backing up the growing telecom here (and being rewarded with great returns). But then again I guess elephants will be flying before you or the purveyors of the above 'humour' make an informed observation

[Pimay1]

Could we have a quick poll to see how many TVF users have access to free wi-fi? As we are scattered across the country, and it is claimed 40% of the country is covered, the numbers should reflect that.

Koh Samui - NO

Haven't seen it here in Udon Thani.

[bigbamboo]

So Bangkok has the same number of Facebook users as Jakarta, a smaller ASEAN city.

As 75 per cent of Facebook users have multiple accounts what does that tell us about Thais and Indonesians? Duplicitous maybe but not high tech savvy.

[quandow]

This is like Nestle's chocolate doing a study on how chocolate doesn't cause acne nor make anyone fat. This is like putting someone like Ben Bernanke in charge of counting the money.

[khunken]

Most Facebook users = high-tech capital? HUBris

IMO using Facebook & Twitter on a smartphone is as hi-tech as switching on a TV.

Let Bangkok start by educating & training IT people in how to create a readable & user friendly web site. Plenty of opportunities there.

Edited February 23, 2013 by khunken