COMMUNICATIONS
TAC founders penetrate wireless ISP marketplace
- By: KOMSAN TORTERMVASANA
- Published: 9/01/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Business
Wide Access, a new business in which the Bencharongkul family holds a 20% stake, will target condominiums, residential areas and universities for its wireless internet access and routing devices.
Chief executive Sunti Medhavikul said the firm was founded in mid-2008 with current registered capital of five million baht. The Bencharongkul family were formerly the major shareholders of Total Access Communication, the operator of the DTAC mobile service.
Wide Access was granted a Type 1 licence (for firms without their own networks) to provide internet access service from the National Telecommunications Commission.
The firm provides wireless internet service through a ''wide mini'' palm-sized router, making telephone lines unnecessary.
He said that the device would function as both a router and repeater for a 150-metre radius, enhancing convenience and expanding working areas for all WiFi-enabled notebook computers, mobile phones, PDAs and PCs.
The device will also connect to the optical-fibre network of the firm's business ally, United Information Highway, enabling the system to cover both internal and external areas of buildings.
He admitted the timing was not perfect because of declining purchasing power caused by the global recession. However, he is confident that with a monthly fee of 590 baht for unlimited internet access at 2Mbps, the business will thrive.
Currently, service is limited to certain buildings where customers pay the monthly fee, with installation of routers covered by the service provider. Individual customers in residential areas need to buy a router and repeater for 2,250 baht.
The company has not fixed service fees and promotions for single house customers yet.
He said the company planned to invest 20 million baht this year.
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