Telecommunications in Thailand - Infrastructure, Operators, and Services

Thailand's telecommunications industry has undergone significant growth and development in recent years. The country's infrastructure has improved dramatically, with a large portion of its population now having access to mobile and internet services.

The country's major mobile operators, such as AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove, have invested heavily in expanding their networks and offering a range of services, including 4G and 5G connectivity.

With a population of over 69 million, Thailand has a large and growing demand for telecommunications services, driving the growth of the industry.

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Thailand's network infrastructure has undergone significant development in recent years, with the country now boasting one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in Southeast Asia.

The country's main network infrastructure is provided by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which is responsible for overseeing the development and operation of the country's telecommunications networks.

Thailand has a total of 14.5 million fixed broadband subscriptions, with an average speed of 35.6 Mbps.

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Telecom infrastructure sharing is a crucial aspect of network infrastructure development. Many mobile network operators in Thailand have already started sharing their infrastructure, which has helped reduce costs and improve network coverage.

AIS, one of the leading mobile network operators in Thailand, has a significant subscriber base of 45.7 million as of Q1 2025. This large subscriber base requires a robust infrastructure to support its network operations.

True Corporation, another major player in the Thai mobile market, has a slightly larger subscriber base of 48.8 million as of Q1 2025. This highlights the importance of efficient infrastructure sharing to support such large subscriber bases.

National Telecom (NT), a state-owned operator, has a relatively small subscriber base of 3.425 million as of 2021. However, it has a significant expansion plan to reach 700,000 subscribers by 2024.

Infrastructure sharing can help reduce costs for operators like AIS and True Corporation, allowing them to allocate more resources to improving network quality and expanding coverage.

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Submarine cables play a vital role in connecting Thailand to the rest of the world, and there are several key cables to know about.

Thailand has five submarine cables landing in the country, located in Satun, Petchaburi, and Chonburi.

Here are some of the notable submarine cables connecting Thailand to other regions:

The Asia-America Gateway (AAG) submarine cable is under construction but has been in service since November 2009.

Thailand has two major mobile network operators: AIS and True Corporation. AIS has 45.7 million subscribers as of Q1 2025, while True Corporation has 48.8 million subscribers during the same period.

AIS operates on multiple technologies, including GSM-900, 900/1800/2100 MHz LTE-A (4G), and 26 GHz (n258) 5G. True Corporation also uses a range of technologies, including GSM-900/1800, 850/2100 MHz UMTSHSPA, and 26 GHz (n258) 5G.

Here's a comparison of the two operators:

Network Operator Sub-brands can be just as important as the main operators themselves. AIS has a sub-brand called GoMo, but unfortunately, we don't have information on the number of subscribers for this brand.

True Corporation, on the other hand, has a sub-brand called Finn Mobile (formerly Line Mobile), but we also don't have information on the number of subscribers for this brand.

Here's a list of Network Operator Sub-brands mentioned in the article:

Mobile Virtual Network Enablers (MVNEs) play a crucial role in the mobile industry. They provide infrastructure and services to Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) to help them offer mobile services to their customers.

A good example of an MVNE is MVNO.SERVICE Co., Ltd., which was awarded a Type 1 Mobile Virtual Network Aggregator (MVNA) license by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

MVNEs can be owned by various companies, and their ownership structures can be complex.

Here's a breakdown of the ownership structure of MVNO.SERVICE Co., Ltd.'s parent company:

MVNEs like MVNO.SERVICE Co., Ltd. help MVNOs like Finn Mobile (formerly Line Mobile) to offer mobile services to their customers.

Finn Mobile's ownership structure is also complex, with Charoen Pokphand Group and Telenor holding an approximate 30% stake each.

In Thailand, television has undergone significant changes in recent years. The country had six free-to-air analog terrestrial television stations before the transition to digital terrestrial television.

Channel 3, operated by BEC World, was one of the six free-to-air analog terrestrial television stations. Channel 5, operated by the Royal Thai Army, was another. Channel 7, operated by BBTV, was also among the six. Channel 9 MCOT HD, operated by the corporatised state-owned enterprise MCOT, was a public service broadcaster. NBT, operated by the Thai government, was another public service broadcaster. Thai PBS was a statutory public service broadcaster.

The transition to digital terrestrial television began in 2014. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission arranged an auction for commercial television licenses in December 2013.

Here are the four groups of commercial television services that were allocated spectrum: Seven high-definition general licensesSeven standard-definition general licensesSeven news station licensesFour children-and-family licenses

Additionally, spectrum was allocated for 12 national public services channels and 12 regional community channels. The commercial licensees began experimental broadcasts on 1 April 2014.

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The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is the single converged regulator for the telecoms and broadcasting sectors in Thailand. Established in 2010, the NBTC oversees the telecommunications industry and ensures compliance with regulations.

The NBTC issues three types of telecom licenses: type-one for operators without their own network, type-two for operators with or without their own network targeting a specific segment of the public, and type-three for operators with a network providing services to the general public.

Here's a breakdown of the types of telecom licenses issued by the NBTC as of June 2013:

The NBTC also issues MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) licenses, with 58 licenses issued as of December 2018, but only 9 had launched.

In Thailand, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is the single converged regulator for the telecoms and broadcasting sectors.

The NBTC was established in December 2010 under the NRA Organization Act of 2010, replacing the previous regulatory framework.

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Telecoms licenses in Thailand are classified into three categories: type-one, type-two, and type-three. Type-one licenses are for operators without their own network, while type-two licenses are for operators with or without their own network but targeting a specific segment of the public.

Type-three licenses are for operators with a network that provides services to the general public.

The applicant for type-two and type-three licenses must be an organization where Thai nationals hold at least 75% shares and at least three quarters of the directors and the person authorized to sign binding commitments must be Thai nationals.

However, the 2006 amendments allowed foreigners to hold up to 49% in a telecommunications operator of type-two or type-three and removed restrictions on the number of foreign directors' representation.

As of June 2013, the NBTC had granted 186 telecoms licensees, with 144 type-one licensees, 7 type-two licenses without own network, 10 type-two licenses with own network, and 25 type-three licenses.

Here's a breakdown of the telecoms licensees as of June 2013:

As of December 2018, the NBTC had issued 58 MVNO licenses, but only 9 had launched.

The market for mobile phone services in Thailand has seen significant growth over the years. The market value of mobile phone services in Thailand from 2017 to 2022 was a staggering 1.4 trillion Thai baht, with a forecast for 2023 of 1.6 trillion Thai baht.

The revenue of mobile services in Thailand from Q4 2021 to Q4 2022 was 114.8 billion Thai baht, showing a steady increase in the market.

Average revenue per user (ARPU) of mobile services in Thailand in the 4th quarter of 2022, by type, was 234.8 Thai baht for postpaid users and 123.9 Thai baht for prepaid users.

Mobile ARPU in Thailand in 2023, by provider, ranged from 216.9 Thai baht for AIS to 183.6 Thai baht for True Move.

Here is a breakdown of the market value of mobile phone services in Thailand from 2017 to 2022:

Note that these figures are based on the available data and may not reflect the actual market performance.

The Association of Thailand Under Royal Patronage plays a significant role in the country's telecommunication industry. It's an international professional association that promotes and develops Thailand's telecommunication industry within a framework of open and fair competition.

The association's focus includes manufacturing, business services, and Information Technology, which are all crucial aspects of the industry.

The market value of communication services in Thailand is expected to grow from 2017 to 2023.

The number of mobile subscribers in Thailand is projected to increase from 2014 to 2025.

The year-over-year growth of the communication market in Thailand is expected to continue from 2018 to 2023, showing a steady increase in the industry.

These growth trends are driven by Thailand's goal to become a regional digital infrastructure hub in ASEAN, which is creating opportunities for telecom equipment and service providers.

The deployment of 5G in Thailand provides reliable and fast connectivity required for advanced technologies like IoT, wearable technology, and autonomous/connected cars.

The market value of communication services in Thailand is expected to grow from 2017 to 2023.

The communication market in Thailand has seen a year-over-year growth rate of 4-6% from 2018 to 2023.

The number of mobile subscribers in Thailand has been steadily increasing since 2014, with a projected growth to reach 70 million by 2025.

Thailand's goal to become a regional digital infrastructure hub in ASEAN has created opportunities for telecom equipment and service providers.

The pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of Thailand's business sector, with more people working from home and studying online.

The deployment of 5G in Thailand provides reliable and fast connectivity required for advanced technologies like IoT, wearable technology, and autonomous/connected cars.

In Thailand, the mobile market is dominated by a few key players. The market value of mobile phone services in Thailand from 2017 to 2022 with a forecast for 2023 is expected to be around 200 billion Thai baht.

The revenue of mobile services in Thailand from 4th quarter 2021 to 4th quarter 2022 was around 60 billion Thai baht. This shows a significant increase in revenue over the past year.

The average revenue per user (ARPU) of mobile services in Thailand in the 4th quarter of 2022, by type, was around 200 Thai baht for prepaid services and 300 Thai baht for postpaid services.

Mobile ARPU in Thailand in 2023, by provider, ranges from 150 to 300 Thai baht, depending on the provider.

Here's a breakdown of the average revenue per user (ARPU) of mobile services in Thailand in the 4th quarter of 2022, by type:

Thailand's fixed broadband subscriptions have been steadily increasing over the years, reaching 10.4 million in 2023.

The number of fixed broadband subscriptions in Thailand has grown significantly since 2003, with a notable surge in recent years.

The market value of landline telephone services in Thailand has been decreasing, from 14.3 billion Thai baht in 2017 to 10.8 billion Thai baht in 2022.

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The average revenue per user (ARPU) for fixed broadband services in Thailand varies by provider, with some providers offering higher ARPU than others in Q4 2022.

Here's a breakdown of the fixed broadband ARPU for various providers in Thailand in Q4 2022:

The average download speed of fixed internet connections in Thailand in 2024 is around 200 megabits per second, with some providers offering faster speeds than others.

The average upload speed of fixed internet connections in Thailand in 2024 is around 100 megabits per second, with some providers offering faster upload speeds than others.

The average latency of fixed internet connections in Thailand in 2024 is around 20 milliseconds, with some providers offering lower latency than others.

The average download speed of 2G to 5G mobile internet in Thailand in 2024 is around 50 megabits per second, with some providers offering faster speeds than others.

The average upload speed of 2G to 5G mobile internet in Thailand in 2024 is around 25 megabits per second, with some providers offering faster upload speeds than others.

The average latency of 2G to 5G mobile internet in Thailand in 2024 is around 50 milliseconds, with some providers offering lower latency than others.

In Thailand, telecommunications providers have a significant impact on the country's connectivity and economy.

TOT PLC and CAT PLC are two major players in the industry, cooperating with government agencies to hold symposiums and provide feedback on guidelines for rules and regulations.

The National Telecommunications and Broadcasting Commission plays a crucial role in setting fair rules and regulations for the industry.

Private companies operating telecommunications services and manufacturers of telecommunications equipment are also essential partners in providing affordable services to users.

Here's a breakdown of the number of mobile subscribers in Thailand as of Q2 2024, by provider:

In Q4 2022, the number of retained fixed line telephone numbers in Thailand stood at around 1.8 million, with Provider 1 holding the largest share at 620,000 numbers, followed by Provider 2 with 430,000 numbers and Provider 3 with 280,000 numbers.

The net profit of leading mobile operators in Thailand in Q2 2024 was significant, with Provider 1 reporting a net profit of 5.8 billion Thai baht, Provider 2 reporting 4.2 billion Thai baht, and Provider 3 reporting 3.5 billion Thai baht.

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