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Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said the city's authorities had signed an agreement with the Telephone Organisation of Thailand and CAT to help Pattaya become an IT City by laying down a wi-fi network, which allows wireless Internet access along the beach and the walking street. The project, called "Wi-Fi on the Beach", will extend over a 4.5-kilometre area.

The city will also implement a "Fibre to the Home" (FTTH) network, covering 20,000 households by the end of next year. Under this project, CAT will set up the IT infrastructure and implement FTTH solutions to support businesses, education sector and Pattaya residents.

"Pattaya will be the first tourist destination in Asia to utilise new technology and infrastructure to support businesses, resident and tourists. It should promote and invite tourists from around the world," Itthiphol said.

He added that in the first stage, the city will provide free-of-charge wi-fi access at the speed of 256 kilobits per second along the beach for 30 minutes at a time. The service will officially be launched on Christmas Day.

Varut Suvakorn, president of TOT, said his agency would provide telecommunications infrastructure and services at an international standard, in an aim to promote Pattaya as a IT paradise location.