TOT's national broadband network ahead of schedule

TOT's national broadband network ahead of schedule

TOT says it will complete the setting up of a national broadband network for 24,700 villages nationwide by this November, a month ahead of the deadline set by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The project has been moving faster than expected thanks to the efficiency of network construction from TOT's 500 subcontractors, including the installation of fibre-optic cable and WiFi hotspots.

As of today, TOT has hooked up 7,613 villages out of 24,700 assigned by the Digital Economy and Society (DE) Ministry to the network.

TOT launched the network project last December. It held an auction for vendors to supply fibre-optics and equipment in March, and the winner started providing equipment in April.

"We [TOT] are installing the broadband network in 4,000 villages a month, faster than the 2,800 village target," said Morakot Thienmontree, TOT's senior executive vice-president.

In May, the national broadband network extended to 3,000 villages, including 587 in northern provinces, 1,835 in northeastern provinces, 449 in southern provinces, 292 in central provinces and 211 in eastern provinces. The TOT had hooked up 6,700 villages by the end of June.

At this rate, TOT is confident of completing the project by November, a month ahead of schedule, Mr Morakot said.

"Completing the installation of the network in 24,000 villages nationwide by the end of December is a do-or-die mission for TOT's management team, as earlier warned by the prime minister," he said.

The government is set to roll out a low-cost broadband infrastructure covering 40,432 villages nationwide which have yet to get broadband internet access.

Of this total, 24,700 villages will be handled by TOT with an investment of 15 billion baht.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission will handle installation for the remaining 15,732 villages using the universal service obligation fund for investment.

The broadband network project offers the chance for private sector and state telecom enterprises to invest for last-mile connection provide low-cost broadband packages to the public.

Each village will also be provided a free Wi-Fi hotspot for the public with a minimum internet download speed of 20Mbps.

A source at the DE Ministry said the TOT has told the ministry that it plans to provide low-cost broadband package at 390 baht per month for people in the villages. The package offers unlimited broadband at a speed of 20Mbps. The package is 200 baht cheaper than existing commercial packages provided by fixed-line broadband operators.

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