Thailand - Fixed Networks and Major Operators

Synopsis

Fixed-line services were outnumbered by mobile phone services in Thailand by a ratio of around nine to one. Nonetheless, with a teledensity of 11% in 2009, fixed-line services remain an integral part of the telecommunications environment in the country. The Ministry of Information & Communications Technology’s effort to promote DSL broadband services initiated in 2004 was to see the start of a potentially enhanced role for the copper network. While reasonably good infrastructure has been put in place to support data communication services, this segment of the market only began to experience significant growth during 2006/07 and by 2009 broadband Internet penetration was still only around 3%. This report provides an overview of voice services in Thailand and looks at some of the sector’s major operators.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
  
• 2. Fixed network voice services
  
  • 2.1 Market overview
    
    • 2.1.1 Historical background
      
  • 2.2 National networks
    
    • 2.2.1 Development of Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) concessions
      
    • 2.2.2 National fibre optic network
      
    • 2.2.3 Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund
      
  • 2.3 International Networks
    
• 3. Fixed network operators in Thailand
  
  • 3.1 Major telecom operators by market segment
    
  • 3.2 TOT Corp
    
    • 3.2.1 Overview
      
    • 3.2.2 Network expansion activity
      
    • 3.2.3 Proposed privatisation
      
  • 3.3 CAT Telecom
    
    • 3.3.1 Overview
      
    • 3.3.2 Network and business expansion
      
    • 3.3.3 Proposed privatisation
      
  • 3.4 Proposed CAT/TOT merger
    
  • 3.5 True Corp
    
    • 3.5.1 Overview
      
    • 3.5.2 Company structure and financial history
      
  • 3.6 Thai Telephone &Telecommunications (TT&T)
    
    • 3.6.1 Overview
      
    • 3.6.2 Business strategy
      
    • 3.6.3 Company structure
      
    • 3.6.4 Financial rehabilitation plan
      
• 4. Related reports
  

• Table 1 – Fixed-line subscribers and market share by operator – 2008
• Table 2 – Public payphones – 2008
• Table 3 – TOT’s total revenues – 2005 - 2009
• Table 4 – TOT’s fixed-line subscribers – 2005 - 2009

• Exhibit 1 – Key service concessions
• Exhibit 2 – Major operators by market segment
• Exhibit 3 – TOT’s troubled business processes
• Exhibit 4 – True Corp’s major shareholders – January 2009