Mesh Technology to grow

Sunti Medhavikul, Wide Access' founder and chief executive

The company has registered capital of Bt5 million, and has been operating since August last year. Benchachinda Holding - a holding company investing in information and communication technology businesses - has a 20-per-cent stake in Wide Access.

Founder and chief executive Sunti Medhavikul said Wide Access's business strategy was to use the new wireless mesh network technology to provide Internet access to its target consumer groups.

The technology involves a mesh network created by connecting wireless access points installed in each network user's locality. Each network user is effectively also a provider, forwarding data to the next node. The networking infrastructure is decentralized and simplified because each node needs only transmit as far as the next node. Wireless mesh networking allows people living in remote areas and small businesses operating in rural neighbourhoods to link up for affordable Internet connections.

Wide Access has implemented wireless mesh services in two Bangkok condominiums, connecting 1,600 units at A-Space Onnuj and 2,000 units at A-Space Asoke, at a speed of two megabits per second for a monthly price of Bt590.

"We have been providing [the service] to about 25 per cent of the projects since late last year. Our main targets are consumers who live in condominiums or in villages. We plan to deploy the service at three more condominiums and in five cities around the country this year. Our first city is Hua Hin," he said.

Wide Access also provides wireless mesh networks commercially for schools. Its first school is Suankularb Witayalai Rangsit School.

"Our target groups are people in areas without asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) broadband Internet connections," Sunti said.

There are huge market opportunities for Wide Access because the current broadband Internet penetration rate is only 2 per cent and only 10 per cent of total households in Thailand can access broadband.

"Only wireless technology, no matter whether it's wireless mesh, WiMax, or 3G, can allow the majority of Thailand's country areas to access the Internet," he said.