United Information Highway (UIH), a member of Benchachinda Group, expects a return to double digit growth in its revenue this year, outpacing overall industry growth.
Thailand's corporate broadband market is projected to grow by 5-10% this year, after a contraction of 3-4% last year worth 8-9 billion baht due to the political turmoil.
Chairman Vichai Bencharongkul said UIH expected revenue to grow by 10% this year, up from 3.5 billion baht last year, which saw a 4-5% rise from 2013.
"The government's policy of promoting a digital-based economy will be a significant driver for the local telecommunications industry starting at the end of this year, he said.
Mr Vichai said UIH planned to spend 700-800 million baht this year, about the same as last year, expanding its broadband infrastructure coverage to accommodate an anticipated surge in demand for wireless information communications.
"Our company's network capacity could serve the existing markets and potential new demand for the whole of this year. The expansion is essential to pave the way for future needs," he said.
UIH has 60,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cables nationwide, covering 95% of population. The company has around 2,000 corporate customers, mostly in the banking and financial sector.
TOT Plc, CAT Telecom and UIH are the major three players in the local broadband market for corporate, worth 8-9 billion baht last year.
A digital economy is expected to stimulate investments for digital infrastructure.
Mr Vichai said UIH would focus on the development of hard infrastructure and soft infrastructure — the two of six pillars in the government's draft action plan for the development of digital economy. The other four are service infrastructure, digital economy promotion, digital society and digital knowledge.
Hard infrastructure refers to the fibre optic network needed throughout the country. Soft infrastructure covers the laws and regulations supporting a digital economy and cybersecurity.
"Given the easing political tensions and expected improvements in economic growth and consumer sentiment, UIH is confident of growing faster than the overall industry this year," said Mr Vichai.
Sunti Medhavikul, senior deputy managing director for marketing, said to achieve the goal, UIH was positioning itself as an integrated fixed- and mobile-data communication service provider to serve more sophisticated demand from businesses in a fiercely competitive environment.
"The country's corporate broadband market is expected to grow by 20% over the next two to five years," he said.
UIH also plans to increase its presence overseas this year, particularly in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.