Thailand - Mobile Communications - Major Operators

Synopsis

This report looks at the operators in the strong Thai mobile market. When two new mobile players – TA Orange and Hutchison CAT – entered the market to challenge the entrenched duopoly of Advanced Info Service (AIS) and Total Access Communications (DTAC), the competition became increasingly vigorous. Two other operators, Thai Mobile and CAT Mobile, also entered the market in a confusing fashion and without much impact. By contrast, True Move (formerley TA Orange) had grabbed close to 24% of total subscribers by early 2009. The local mobile sector has seen a sustained period of high competition involving heavy price-cutting as the battle for market share raged. There was likely to be a push for consolidation, especially as the market gets closer to saturation. The government’s sectoral reform, once finalised, should also have a major impact on the shape and direction of the market. The matter of government issuing 3G licences had become a prolonged saga – but the end was in sight.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Operating environment
• 3. Market statistics
• 4. Major mobile operators
  • 4.1 Advanced Info Service (AIS)
    • 4.1.1 Overview and statistics
    • 4.1.2 3G strategy
  • 4.2 DTAC
    • 4.2.1 Overview and statistics
    • 4.2.2 3G strategy
  • 4.3 True Move
    • 4.3.1 Overview and statistics
    • 4.3.2 3G strategy
    • 4.3.3 PCT network
  • 4.4 Hutchison CAT
    • 4.4.1 Overview and statistics
  • 4.5 Thai Mobile
    • 4.5.1 TOT/CAT joint venture
    • 4.5.2 Restructuring of Thai Mobile joint Venture
    • 4.5.3 Proposed 3G network
  • 4.6 CAT Telecom
• 5. Related reports

• Table 1 – Mobile operators, subscribers and annual change – March 2009
• Table 2 – Mobile operators, subscribers and market share – March 2009
• Table 3 – ARPU (postpaid, prepaid, blended) for major mobile operators – 2007 - 2008
• Table 4 – AIS: subscribers and market share – 2004; 2007 - 2009
• Table 5 – AIS: mobile subscribers and ARPU (postpaid & prepaid) - June 2009
• Table 6 – DTAC: subscribers and market share – 2002 – 2003; 2005 - 2009
• Table 7 – DTAC: mobile subscribers and ARPU (postpaid & prepaid) - 2008
• Table 8 – True Move: subscribers and market share – 2004 - 2009
• Table 9 – True Move: mobile subscribers and ARPU (postpaid & prepaid) - 2008
• Table 10 – Hutchison CAT: subscribers and market share – 2003; 2007 - 2009
• Table 11 – Thai Mobile Telecom’s subscriber growth – 2002 - 2009
• Table 12 – CAT Telecom’s subscriber growth – 2006 - 2009

• Exhibit 1 – Revised structure of Hutchison CAT joint venture