Latest news with #SanpachaiHuvanandana
Bangkok Post
12-08-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
NBTC okays Thai satellite broadband service by NT
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has given the nod to National Telecom (NT) providing the country's first local satellite broadband internet service using a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite. The state telecom started the local service this month under its partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb's LEO satellite operator, according to NT president Col Sanpachai Huvanandana. NT targets US$10 million in revenue from the service by 2030, excluding NT's infrastructure rental fee of 200 million baht per year that Eutelsat OneWeb pays to NT. The approval follows an NBTC resolution in March of this year to allow NT to provide the broadband service via Eutelsat OneWeb LEO satellites for a regional market, excluding Thailand. NT has provided the LEO broadband service through its gateway in Ubon Ratchathani province. Its Satellite Network Portal gateway there is expected to support more than 50,000 users in Southeast Asia in the first year of operation. Eutelsat OneWeb and NT have collectively invested more than $25 million in the local infrastructure to make Eutelsat OneWeb services possible in Thailand and the region. Eutelsat OneWeb is part of the Eutelsat Group, a global leader in satellite communications, delivering connectivity and broadcast services worldwide. The group operates 35 geostationary satellites and 634 LEO satellites. NT is targeting regional enterprises that want a satellite broadband network to provide services in remote areas. "Satellite services, including LEO broadband service, will be a significant driver of NT's revenue in the future," said Col Sanpachai. End-user spending on LEO satellite communication services is expected to reach $14.8 billion globally by 2026, up 24.5% from 2025, according to tech research firm Gartner. "LEO satellites have primarily delivered broadband connectivity to remote locations where traditional networks don't reach," said Khurram Shahzad, senior director analyst at Gartner. New consumer and business use cases are emerging, driving communications service providers to expand the market, which is enabling LEO satellites to become a mainstream enterprise broadband technology, he said. The market is entering a rapid expansion phase, with more than 20 active LEO satellite service providers and in excess of 40,000 satellites expected in the next few years, said Mr Shahzad. As use cases continue to grow, companies and consumers can expect consistent internet access and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors everywhere, without being limited by location, he said. "Even airplanes, ships and sea platforms will benefit from new means of network resiliency and a ubiquitous internet," said Mr Shahzad. The largest growth in LEO satellite communications services in 2026 will come from businesses and consumers in remote areas with no other connectivity options, with spending expected to increase by 40.2% and 36.4%, respectively, according to Gartner, followed by LEO services for IoT connectivity (32%), maritime and aviation (13.8%), and network resilience improvement (7.7%). Emerging use cases for LEO satellite communications services can be categorised into four distinct areas, including fixed and mobile broadband service. Examples of use cases for fixed and mobile broadband services include LEO-connected drones being used in Australia to deliver 4G/5G mobile connectivity during natural disasters, while some US airlines are starting to offer free high-speed WiFi to passengers using LEO satellite communications services. Despite these expanding use cases, the industry remains nascent with various limitations, including regulatory barriers in some countries and capacity constraints in certain areas, said Mr Shahzad. He said LEO services can also encounter roaming restrictions, lack interoperability, and are not certified for all mission-critical maritime needs. It is important for communications service providers to assess strategies on a use-case basis, said Mr Shahzad.
Bangkok Post
08-08-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Peeling back the curtain on NT's great migration
National Telecom (NT) has migrated most of its 2 million subscribers on the 2100-megahertz, 2300MHz and 850MHz spectrum bands to its 700MHz band, following the expiry of its ability to use the three bands on Aug 4. NT president Col Sanpachai Huvanandana described the customer migration as "smooth". The state agency operated on the three bands with private telecom operators under partnership deals. What is NT's 700MHz network capacity? NT began service on its 700MHz network last year after it clinched a spectrum licence for the band in an auction in 2020. Col Sanpachai said the 700MHz network has the capacity to serve more than 4 million subscribers nationwide. However, NT is targeting select groups of customers, instead of fiercely competing with major players to woo customers. Are all of NT's users now on the 700MHz band? He said earlier there were more than 1,000 subscribers who used fixed mobile broadband service on the 2300MHz and 2100MHz spectrums. This group roams using NT's partner telecom networks. Col Sanpachai said if NT has to migrate this group to the 700MHz band, it will have to change the related equipment for them so they can access its 700MHz service. This process is technically complicated and will increase NT's costs, he said. In addition, previously there were more than 1,000 SIM cards using its 850MHz band to operate machine-to-machine systems such as ATM kiosks. The state agency already migrated them from the 850MHz network to its partners' networks to prevent service disruption. Col Sanpachai said after its contracts with banks for this ATM connectivity expire, NT will bid for the projects again using its own spectrum band. NT began migrating customers from the 850MHz, 2100 MHz and 2300MHz bands to 700MHz in early 2024. The company was formed through a merger of state telecom agencies TOT and CAT Telecom in 2021, and prior to the merger TOT partnered with Advanced Info Service (AIS) to provide mobile phone services on TOT's 2100MHz band. TOT also partnered with Total Access Communication (dtac) on TOT's 2300MHz band. CAT Telecom partnered with True Move H Universal Communication on CAT's 850MHz band. True and dtac merged to become True in early 2023. In 2023, NT transferred the right to use half of 20MHz on the 700MHz band to Advanced Wireless Network Co Ltd (AWN), an AIS subsidiary. NT and AIS also signed agreements for telecom equipment rental on NT's 700MHz spectrum and for nationwide roaming, aiming to enhance and expand the 4G/5G capabilities of both companies. What happens to the three expired bands? The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) already auctioned off the three bands as well as other bands in June this year, with AIS and True the only bidders. AIS grabbed the rights to the 2100MHz band, while True bagged the 2300MHz and 1500MHz bands. There were no bids for the 850MHz band. The NBTC awarded both winners the spectrum licences on Aug 4 after they paid the first instalment of the licence on July 29. Can NT survive with only the 700MHz band in hand? A cabinet resolution in 2021 directed the Digital Economy and Society Ministry and the NBTC to discuss the allocation of an additional spectrum band to NT to provide a mobile phone service to the public and state agencies. The cabinet issued the resolution when TOT and CAT merged to become NT. NT is conducting a feasibility study on what spectrum bands it wants to use for such missions, said Col Sanpachai. Previously he told the Bangkok Post NT prefers the middle bands because they could efficiently enhance its service offering capability. The middle bands are those between 1000MHz and 6000MHz. Demand for smart solutions has increased from state agencies as they progress with their digital transformation process, said Col Sanpachai. If the NBTC allocates some bands to NT to provide smart solutions to state agencies, he said NT can create services that are cost-effective. In addition, Col Sanpachai said four companies have proposed business partnerships with NT as the state agency searches for new revenue streams. The proposed partners comprise AIS, True, and foreign IT equipment vendors. He said NT is open to strategic partnerships with both domestic and international companies, aiming to jointly revive its mobile phone service and broadband businesses. The state agency expects the partnership model to reinforce areas where it has limitations, such as the coverage of some services, said Col Sanpachai. Earlier NT reported its mobile service booked a loss of 4 billion baht in 2023, while its fixed broadband internet service is expected to report revenue of 2.4 billion baht for 2024, with a loss of 900 million baht. The company has an aggressive growth target for its cloud service of 10 billion baht by 2027, up from 4 billion per year at present. NT wants to cash in on rising demand for cloud services, which are expected to reach 500,000 virtual machines in three years. The company operates cloud services through its own brand NT Cloud and operates Government Data Center and Cloud Service, offering state units cloud services.
Bangkok Post
07-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
National Telecom seeks to enhance services with T3
National Telecom Plc (NT) is enhancing its broadband service capabilities through a strategic partnership with T3 Technology Co Ltd, aiming to introduce smart cameras to offer convenience and value to Thai consumers. Col Sanpachai Huvanandana, president of NT, and Wang Helin, chairman and founder of T3 Technology, signed a marketing partnership agreement to enhance NT's service offerings and competitiveness. This collaboration is expected to offer more innovative products and smarter solutions to NT customers, meeting the demands of digital consumers while providing high-quality service. Under this partnership, NT and T3 Technology will jointly explore and develop co-marketing activities, especially concerning NT's broadband services. The goal is to support service growth by integrating innovative technologies into NT's offerings, in response to increasing demand driven by the expansion of residential housing projects and the growing number of internet-connected devices in Thai households. This collaboration offers a significant opportunity for business growth, which can be leveraged to enhance and accelerate the development of marketing initiatives, enabling NT to deliver services to customers with greater speed and efficiency. NT is ready to offer high-value services that align with modern consumer behaviour and rising demand for advanced technologies. "Through this partnership with T3 Technology -- an industry leader in the IoT [Internet of Things] device sector -- we will initially explore the integration of smart cameras into NT promotional campaigns." This initiative aligns with NT's broader strategic direction of expanding its digital service capabilities to meet growing demand. NT is committed to building strategic partnerships to enhance consumer trust and satisfaction in its services. Mr Wang emphasised T3 Technology specialises in IoT products and smart devices, such as smart cameras, WiFi routers, smart bulbs, smart strip lights and more. "With branch offices in five countries, forming a partnership with NT presents an opportunity to leverage our technological expertise and deep understanding of customer behaviour in the joint development of services that truly align with the evolving needs of the market." "Our strength lies in developing innovative smart home devices, coupled with our ability to empower telecom operators to win the household market through seamlessly integrated bundled IoT service offerings. "At the core of our business is the 'Own the Household' strategy -- a forward-thinking vision that positions service providers at the centre of consumers' digital lifestyles. "More than just a strategic direction, it serves as a platform for our partners to deliver value-added services, strengthen customer loyalty, elevate user experiences and create new avenues for sustainable revenue growth."
Bangkok Post
07-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
NT seeks to enhance services with T3
National Telecom Plc (NT) is enhancing its broadband service capabilities through a strategic partnership with T3 Technology Co Ltd, aiming to introduce smart cameras to offer convenience and value to Thai consumers. Col Sanpachai Huvanandana, president of NT, and Wang Helin, chairman and founder of T3 Technology, signed a marketing partnership agreement to enhance NT's service offerings and competitiveness. This collaboration is expected to offer more innovative products and smarter solutions to NT customers, meeting the demands of digital consumers while providing high-quality service. Under this partnership, NT and T3 Technology will jointly explore and develop co-marketing activities, especially concerning NT's broadband services. The goal is to support service growth by integrating innovative technologies into NT's offerings, in response to increasing demand driven by the expansion of residential housing projects and the growing number of internet-connected devices in Thai households. This collaboration offers a significant opportunity for business growth, which can be leveraged to enhance and accelerate the development of marketing initiatives, enabling NT to deliver services to customers with greater speed and efficiency. NT is ready to offer high-value services that align with modern consumer behaviour and rising demand for advanced technologies. "Through this partnership with T3 Technology -- an industry leader in the IoT [Internet of Things] device sector -- we will initially explore the integration of smart cameras into NT promotional campaigns." This initiative aligns with NT's broader strategic direction of expanding its digital service capabilities to meet growing demand. NT is committed to building strategic partnerships to enhance consumer trust and satisfaction in its services. Mr Wang emphasised T3 Technology specialises in IoT products and smart devices, such as smart cameras, WiFi routers, smart bulbs, smart strip lights and more. "With branch offices in five countries, forming a partnership with NT presents an opportunity to leverage our technological expertise and deep understanding of customer behaviour in the joint development of services that truly align with the evolving needs of the market." "Our strength lies in developing innovative smart home devices, coupled with our ability to empower telecom operators to win the household market through seamlessly integrated bundled IoT service offerings. "At the core of our business is the 'Own the Household' strategy -- a forward-thinking vision that positions service providers at the centre of consumers' digital lifestyles.
