Mobile phone operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) has teamed up with two partners to provide industrial solutions powered by the 5G network to support smart manufacturing in Thailand.
AIS has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation Thailand, a production line technology powerhouse, and TKK Corporation, an automated industrial control systems provider.
The move is focused on regenerating Thai manufacturing with modern solutions to make it the equal of other advanced nations, according to Tanapong Ittisakulchai, chief enterprise business officer of SET-listed AIS, the country's largest mobile operator by subscribers.
Mr Tanapong said the solutions would involve upgrading factories to smart manufacturing with a concept that will transform manufacturing efficiency in terms of enhancing quality and cutting manufacturing costs.
He added that since the start of last year, AIS has worked with Mitsubishi Electric to provide 5G-powered smart manufacturing solutions to the factory of SET-listed SNC Former, a producer of component parts for air conditioners for cars and cooling machines.
The latest collaboration is another step towards deploying prototypes into real-use cases of what the company refers to as e-F@ctory solutions, Mr Tanapong said.
The smart manufacturing concept will transform manufacturing efficiency and will be responsive to production needs through a private network, he said, noting that it can also strengthen data security and network speeds, and reduces latency to fully support Internet of Things (IoT) systems.
According to Mr Tanapong, smart manufacturing solutions require 5G networks that support remote monitoring, remote maintenance, remote development and remote service.
Wichiene Ngamsukkarsemsri, managing director of Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation Thailand, said Mitsubishi Electric has deployed more than 10,000 real-use cases around the world in its e-F@ctory solutions.
"This collaboration has brought these solutions to fruition in Thailand, meeting the needs of the Thai industrial sector, and connecting data at every level with IoT devices," said Mr Wichiene.
"Operations benefit in every way, whether from reduced costs, increased efficiency or built-in support for future manufacturing processes."
Meanwhile, AIS reported second-quarter revenue of 42.7 billion baht, up 1.2% year-on-year but down 6.8% quarterly.
Its net profit in the second quarter grew 0.6% year-on-year and 6% quarterly to 7 billion baht.
The company said its mobile revenue declined 1.5% year-on-year and 0.9% quarterly to 29 billion baht as economic woes took a toll on consumers' purchasing power.
Its fixed broadband revenue surged 21% year-on-year and 6.2% quarterly to 2 billion baht, buoyed by surging demand for internet services during the lockdown to support people working from home and studying online.
AIS Fibre added 104,000 subscribers in the second quarter, giving it a current customer total of 1.5 million.
