telecommunications — english language news service
24.07.2008« [telecommunications — телекоммуникация — telekommunikation]
thailand — true pushes nationwide convergence strategy
The Bangkok Post writes that True Move, Thailand’s third largest mobile operator by subscribers, is introducing a series of mobile internet convergence packages by integrating fixed broadband Wi-Fi access on mobile handsets with GPRS/EDGE data services. The new packages give True Move pre-paid and post-paid customers unlimited nationwide internet access through Wi-Fi, EDGE and GPRS for THB450 (USD13.55) per month or THB20 a day, with an option for post-paid subscribers to add unlimited voice calls and other online services for THB299 per month. Alternatively, users can choose just EDGE/GPRS services for THB10 a day or THB250 per month. Parent group True Corp operates a nationwide network of 15,000 Wi-Fi hotspots. True Move’s GPRS network covers at least 92% of the population, and that last month it contracted Alcatel-Lucent to expand EDGE coverage in Bangkok and the Central-West, South and North regions of Thailand. The database also shows that by the fourth quarter of 2007 data services accounted for around 10.3% of the cellco’s monthly ARPU, and on an annual basis non-voice revenue represented 10.4% of total mobile service revenue, up from 9.6% in 2006 and 7.6% in 2005. According to the Bangkok Post, 15% of True Move’s data earnings last year came from GPRS and EDGE and the remainder from SMS and ringtones. Piroon Paireepairit, the cellco’s director for multimedia services content and marketing, said True Move expected to attract at least one million customers with the new packages and increase the group’s Wi-Fi traffic by 50%. The True group currently has 50,000 Wi-Fi users, and True Move has around two million EDGE/GPRS users amongst its total base of over 12.5 million GSM subscribers.
Source: TeleGeography's CommsUpdate
true corp
True Corporation PCL, formerly TelecomAsia Corp., is a Thailand-based integrated telecommunications service company. The Company has five business groups: True Move, which provides mobile telecommunication services; True Online, which offers wire line network, personal communication telephone (WE PCT) as well as Internet connection and broadband services; True Vision, which is engaged in Pay-Television (Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) and cable Television) business in Bangkok and vicinities; True Money, which is involved in digital commerce services, and True Live, which provides data and digital content to its customers. Headquartered in Bangkok, the Company has a number of subsidiaries. On December 11, 2007, its subsidiary, Telecom Equipment Manufacturing Company Limited, has filed for dissolution with the Business Development Department of the Ministry of Commerce.
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