True Move has moved pre-emptively to beat its bigger rivals with yesterday's launch of Thailand's first commercial fourth-generation (4G) wireless broadband service on a limited scale.
True Move chief executive Suphachai Chearavanont presides over the launch of 4G wireless broadband service yesterday. PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN
The country's third-largest mobile operator rolled out 4G and 3G service on the 2.1-gigahertz international standard with 500 base stations on each network.
This is on top of its existing 3G network of 13,000 base stations nationwide on the 850-megahertz spectrum.
The company's 4G network, the current ultimate in mobile communications technology and five times faster than 3G, serves users in the densely populated high-rises of Bangkok's central business district areas of Siam Square, Silom Road and Sathon Road.
The 4G network will be expanded to 15 major provinces this year including Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Surat Thani and Ayutthaya.
Subscription packages for 4G start from 699 baht. These include unlimited data service at a speed of 2 Gbps.
However, only a few handsets in Thailand are 4G-compatible.
True Move's 3G service, offered under the True Move H brand, averages one baht per megabyte, half the cost of its 2G service.
Suphachai Chearavanont, the chief executive of parent True Corporation, said the goal is to stay one step ahead of the group's bigger rivals in the areas of mobile 3G and 4G.
Through Real Future, True Corporation will by year-end increase the number of its 4G and 3G base stations on the 2.1-GHz spectrum to 2,000 and 5,000, respectively.
The number of 3G base stations on the 850-MHz spectrum will rise to 14,000 this year.
Mr Suphachai said True will spend another 15 billion baht on network expansion this year. "We plan to retain our leadership in the 3G market."
Adiruth Thothaveesansuk, True Move's managing director, said the company hopes to have 6 million 4G subscribers by year-end compared with 3.2 million at present for 3G.