State telecom enterprise TOT yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) to support telecom infrastructure in 14 industrial estates and an industrial port under the IEAT management.
Called "Fibre to the factory", the MoU would usher in the installation of telecom infrastructure, which would benefit these industrial estates and support the Industry 4.0 scheme.
The move is also expected to be a boon for TOT's infrastructure-sharing business, especially during a transition period of the merger of TOT and CAT Telecom, another state telecom enterprise, into National Telecom (NT), which is set to be launched in January next year.
TOT acting president Morakot Thienmontree said the MoU would also pave the way for the joint study of new business opportunities and support digital service adoption.
"TOT will provide telecom infrastructure in the industrial estates, ranging from cable conduits and fibre-optics to digital solutions and services," said Mr Morakot.
Recently, TOT also inked a three-year MoU for a collaboration with the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO) for a telecom infrastructure offering under the concept of infrastructure-sharing as well as 5G-based solutions for vertical industry under the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme.
TOT is establishing itself as an infrastructure-sharing provider and is aiming to work with other business partners for mutual benefits in line with the new economy. It also ushering in 5G solutions for public services.
The EECO plans to establish a 5G special zone in Rayong's Ban Chang district by the end of this year to cater to new S-curve industries and draw global tech giants to the area. The zone will be developed as a new smart city embedded with 5G solutions and innovation technology.
This project will serve as a model for other smart city schemes with 5G tech in other areas in the future.
According to Mr Morakot in January 2020, TOT had clinched MoUs with eleven telecom operators for the collaboration on the telecom network-sharing scheme to boost innovation development co-operation, reduce duplication of network investment and ensure cost savings.
TOT has an array of telecom infrastructure nationwide, including cable conduits, cement poles and fibre-optic cables.
The state telecom enterprise in February secured four slots of the 26-megahertz spectrum licences in the 5G spectrum auction.