Vira Inthanet, director of SVOA, said the campaign would help SMEs use information technology to manage their business and increase productivity and service quality to their customers. It will also help them expand their business base via e-commerce.

Under the cooperation, SVOA will provide desktop PCs with Intel chips and bundled with high-speed Internet from TT&T to allow SMEs to make online connections in running their businesses.

"We want to encourage SMEs to use the new technology, which will help them to access customers worldwide," said Vira.

Moreover, the firm will provide built-to-order services to support SMEs.

Supoj Tiarawut, senior vice president of TT&T, said the firm was providing broadband Internet service with a data transmission rate of 512/526 kilobits per second, a free router and waiver of the Bt1,070 registration fee.

TT&T will also provide a Web camera and Voice over Internet Protocol so that SMEs are able to contact international customers via the Internet.

Kritika Kongsompong, lecturer in the Faculty of Marketing at the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University, said there were more than 2.1 million SMEs in the country.

"Small and medium enterprises have the potential to grow using technology such as e-commerce, and they should use IT to provide e-commerce to business and to enhance and increase their productivity. With this technology, it would be easier for them to communicate with the international market and with customers, anywhere, anytime," said Kritika.

Jirapan Boonnoon

The Nation