True to invest Bt4 bn in expansion of 4G network

[webfact]

True to invest Bt4 bn in expansion of 4G network
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- True Corp has plans to invest Bt4 billion to further expand its 4G-2.1GHz network with 7,000 base stations nationwide by next February, up from the expected 3,000 stations at the end of this year, as part of its plan to become the leader in both 3G and 4G wireless broadband services, chief executive officer Suphachai Chearavanont said.

The move is expected to spark a battle in the 4G-service market next year. Recently, Total Access Communication (DTAC) announced its ambition to be the leading Internet operator. It will enhance its mobile network by installing additional 3G/4G base stations with 6,500 bases in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area and 30 major cities, completed by the end of the first quarter of next year, in addition to its existing 16,500 sites combined 3G-2.1GHz/850MHz base stations.

Suphachai said that 4G-service demand in Thailand would take off next year.

"Our 4G network will cover about 60 per cent of the population nationwide by February, up from 25 per cent at present. We'll become No 1 in mobile data network service in both 4G and 3G services," he said recently.

True is providing 3G and 4G services under the same TrueMove H brand. Its subsidiary, Real Future, provides 3G and 4G services on the 2.1GHz spectrum. Its other subsidiary, Real Move, has provided the 3G service on the 850MHz band, in partnership with CAT Telecom.

Suphachai said that True, the first operator here to launch the 4G-2.1GHz service, aims to secure around 40 per cent market share of the 4G service market next year.

True claims that it has around 800,000 subscribers for the 4G service, 19 million users for 3G service on the 2.1GHz and 850MHz spectra combined, and 4 million users of the 2G service. True has 13,500 sites of 3G-850MHz nationwide and will have 5,300 sites of 3G-2.1GHz and 3,000 sites on 4G-2.1GHz within this year.

"Ten years ago we were handicapped. We were short of adequate spectrum bandwidth and cash for investment. But in the next 10 years, we'll aggressively acquire a big slice of market share in all our business segments because we've already solved the debt problem," Suphachai added.

He is convinced that True Group would post profit in the fourth quarter of this year. Even though it is not as strong as Advanced Info Service and does not have a global telecom network like that of Norway's Telenor, the strategic partner of DTAC, True is ready to compete with them in offering new types of services to customers.

In the broadband Internet service frontier, True is competing with TOT and Triple T Broadband, while in the pay-TV service arena, its rival is CTH. In the terrestrial digital TV broadcasting business, it is competing with other digital TV channel operators in wooing commercials.

Suphachai said that next year, True would focus more on its existing fibre-optic-based broadband Internet business. It also targets to have total 2.2 million broadband Internet subscribers by the end of this year.

Suphachai added that True has a plan to produce hybrid set-top-boxes, which encompass combined terrestrial digital TV, cable, and satellite TV systems. It will apply for the boxes to participate in the current scheme of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission of giving away vouchers to households to buy digital TV equipment.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/True-to-invest-Bt4-bn-in-expansion-of-4G-network-30246440.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-29

[selftaopath]

When I called True inquiring a/b internet service in Kaengkhro District the "associate" practically laughed out loud, but told me "no service" there. Are they only interested in providing internet to cities/large towns?

[lomatopo]

When I called True inquiring a/b internet service in Kaengkhro District the "associate" practically laughed out loud, but told me "no service" there. Are they only interested in providing internet to cities/large towns?

Suspect you are confusing fixed-line internet (DSL/DOCSIS?FTTx) and True Online, with mobile data (3G/4G) and TrueMove H.

This article is about the latter, and given TrueMove H's expansion, you might be able to utilize it?

China Mobile took an 18% stake in TrueMove H so now they have the capital they need to expand. Excellent news.

Now if we could just get an 1800 MHz auction.

[akampa]

seriously what is the benefit for using 3 G let alone 4 G In Thailand, I use my phone for talking to other people. and my desktop computer for most other things,

[WhizBang]

It would be nice if True invested in the hard line internet to improve their service there. I rarely get anything close to the speeds I am paying for, and even when I do get a good speed, it doesn't last long and is usually bouncing all over the place.

[JacChang]

What happens to my trueif shares?