Total Access Communication (DTAC) is gearing up to deploy 4,400 cell sites across the country for the 700-megahertz spectrum by March to serve the proliferation of data usage for remote work and online study.
The carrier, the third biggest mobile operator by subscribers, indicated in a briefing yesterday it is providing high-speed massive MIMO technology and 4G-TDD sites on the 2300MHz range under a partnership with National Telecom (NT) for areas with dense data usage.
The company's 26-gigahertz spectrum range has also been provided for the industrial sector for 5G service since last year.
Despite holding the least bandwidth on spectrum ranges compared with the top two major operators, DTAC confirmed its spectrum portfolio is sufficient for mobile services.
DTAC chief executive Sharad Mehrotra said 5G tech adoption is "like a marathon journey" as it needs time for business use cases to develop as well as development of ecosystem before massive adoption.
"DTAC will operate business through its resilience strategy between 2021 and 2023 as a digital-first approach of high-speed internet for all and personalised applications and services," Mr Mehrotra said.
The strategy is targeted to bring high-speed connectivity for all, not only through expensive devices, as well as lifting resilience of customers and providing affordable and reliable 4G and 5G.
Prathet Takuranun, chief technology officer of DTAC, said the company is committed to having 4,400 cell sites for 700MHz range across the country by March.
"As a low-band spectrum, the 700MHz range provides the widest possible coverage and dynamic spectrum sharing between 4G and 5G. Low-band spectra also boost indoor coverage and upload capacity, which makes the range perfectly suited for the growing number of remote workers and students in residential areas," he said.
According to Mr Prathet, four new usage patterns emerged in 2020, which require matching network solutions.
The first is called "The New Rurals", in which data usage in 2020 grew nine times faster in the provinces compared with Bangkok while smartphone penetration jumped three times faster in the provinces.
The second is dubbed "The Remote Deskers", in which people working from home and studying online are heavily relying on productivity apps and video conferencing.
From January 2020 to January 2021, usage of Zoom grew 5,050% and Google Hangouts 740%.
The third is called "the Non-Stop Streamer", in which people heavily engaged in entertainment usage for YouTube and TikTok. They have been serviced with 5G-ready massive MIMO technology and over 20,400 TDD sites nationwide in partnership with NT.
The last is "The Critical User", in which hospitals, emergency services as well as businesses increasingly depend on mobile connectivity to function.