Thailand - Mobile Communications - Market Overview

Synopsis

The Thai mobile market continues to grow. By mid-2009 there were 64 million mobile subscribers in the country and penetration was around the 100% mark. The subscriber numbers were up from 30 million in 2005. With the arrival of two additional players in the mobile market – TA Orange (later called True Move) and Hutchison CAT – almost a decade ago, the powerful duopoly of AIS and DTAC was fundamentally challenged as competition began heating up. There was also the launch of Thai Mobile, the TOT/CAT mobile joint venture, over this period. The market is now in need of some rationalisation; regulatory changes will continue to be a big factor in shaping the future market. This means that much will depend on the government and the regulator to make the necessary changes. The commercial rollout of 3G networks will also be watched with great interest. This report presents an overview of the Thai mobile market, including some pertinent statistics.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Overview of Thailand’s mobile market
  • 2.1 Mobile statistics
  • 2.2 Competition
• 3. Regulatory developments
  • 3.1 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
  • 3.2 Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO)
  • 3.3 Interconnection arrangements
  • 3.4 National security
• 4. Mobile technologies
  • 4.1 CDMA
  • 4.2 PCN services
  • 4.3 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
    • 4.3.1 AIS
    • 4.3.2 DTAC
    • 4.3.3 True
  • 4.4 Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
    • 4.4.1 AIS
    • 4.4.2 DTAC
    • 4.4.3 True
  • 4.5 Third Generation (3G) mobile
    • 4.5.1 Overview
    • 4.5.2 AIS
    • 4.5.3 DTAC
    • 4.5.4 True
    • 4.5.5 Hutchison CAT
• 5. Mobile voice services
  • 5.1 Prepaid
• 6. Mobile data services
  • 6.1 Overview
  • 6.2 Short Message Service (SMS)
    • 6.2.1 AIS
    • 6.2.2 TOT
    • 6.2.3 DTAC
  • 6.3 Multimedia Message Service (MMS)
  • 6.4 Global Positioning System (GPS) service
• 7. Mobile content and applications
  • 7.1 Mobile music
  • 7.2 Mobile TV
  • 7.3 Gaming
• 8. Related reports

• Table 1 – Mobile subscribers – 1998 - 2011
• Table 2 – Mobile services revenue and ARPU – 1998 - 2009
• Table 3 – Mobile operators, subscribers and market share – March 2009
• Table 4 – Mobile operators, subscribers and annual change – March 2009
• Table 5 – ARPU (postpaid, prepaid, blended) for major mobile operators – 2007 - 2008
• Table 6 – Mobile subscribers – prepaid and postpaid – 2006 - 2008
• Table 7 – Prepaid subscribers and percentage of subscriber base by operator – June 2007

• Exhibit 1 – Major mobile operators and foreign shareholders – 2009