Internet use in Thailand has risen at the highest rate in the world, climbing 34 ranks in the latest global study conducted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
In the Measuring the Information Society Report 2014, Thailand’s internet use ranked in 71st place, up from 105th of the total of 166 countries studied by the organisation.
The internet use in Thailand has risen at the highest rate in the world. (Bnagkok Post file photo)
Fiji had the second fastest growth, climbing 24 places to 72nd place, and Burkina Faso was third, rising by 13 places to 142nd.
Thakorn Tanthasit, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, said the sharp rise in the internet use in Thailand was partly supported by the allocation of the international-standard 2.1-gigahertz band for third-generation (3G) mobile services and the increase in mobile internet use.
As the result of improvements in the internet use, Thailand’s overall ICT Development Index (IDI) has improved to 81st place, up by 10 places.
Internet use is a factor for the measurement of the IDI, other factors include the access and the skills.
He said the study was in line with the earlier study by the World Economic Forum on ICT competitiveness in 2014 through the Network Readiness Index (NRI), in which Thailand was ranked 67th, up from 74th in 2013.
Mr Thakorn said the competitiveness of Thailand had improved as the country offered affordable mobile phone tariffs and penetration of mobile phones, as well as the rise in social media use.
Although Thailand started using 3G mobile services later than most other countries, the conversion rate from second-generation to 3G was the fastest in the world. Thailand is now the third largest Facebook user and the second-largest Line user, after Japan.