TOT plans next-gen network

TOT's product development executive vice president Montchai Noosong said that with the help of the NGN investment, the company will implement an Internet Protocol (IP) or a broadband network, which will provide IP services to the market.

NGN will provide broadband services and network access through Wireline and WiMax technologies. It will also act as a 3G mobile-phone operator, which will provide 3G-mobility services to the market.

The company plans to invest Bt29 billion between next year and 2011 in the 3G network.

In the first phase, TOT will upgrade 500 existing stations in Bangkok and major provinces, which are currently in the 2.5 frequency band into a 3G frequency band of 1965 MHz to provide 3G services by next year.

In the second phase, TOT will install 5,220 new 3G base stations across the country. It will also provide wireless broadband services within next year.

"Focusing on mobile services is a key strategy of our company. We have also tested the WiMax network to provide fixed-wireless technology in Choburi and Mahasarakham provinces," Montchai said.

The company will implement a broadband network of 1 million ports, which will require a budget of about Bt3 billion.

It already has an existing broadband network of 600,000 ports.

The company will provide broadband access and multimedia content, such as games, edutainment and education applications, to customers over a broadband IP. It will also upgrade fixed-line networks to broadband networks.

"The company is awaiting the TOT board's approval for the Bt3-billion investment for implementing a broadband network with 1 million ports by next year," Montchai said.

It will then move on to providing new services, such as fiber-to-home, in the next step," he said.

The company will act as an Application Service Provider and  will offer core IP network and data-centre services.

It will also offer multimedia content and application services, such as security, accounting and purchase-order applications, to small and medium-enterprise markets, .

He said that for Internet Service Providers, the company will provide an Internet Exchange Network, International Gateway for data and voice over IP.

"Information technology will help organisations save costs of energy and operations management. It will also reduce their everday expenses because it will people  cut down on transportation costs by enabling them to connect to friends and relatives through online networks, such as a virtual meeting room," Montchai said.

Thailand has about 9 million Internet users, or 13 per cent of its population. Therefore, the potential of the market in this sector is immense.