Model of “Meaningful Broadband”

“Meaningful Broadband” Model Released Soon at Chulalongkorn Forum

By Wisit Stephens, special to Bangkok Post

Fed up with delay surrounding Thailand’s 3G and Wimax deployments, the secretariat of a powerful Chulalongkorn-based think tank will release a report October 28, presenting a model to vastly accelerate the nation’s broadband deployment.

Headlining the event, to be held at Sasin Graduate School of Business, 1-4 pm that afternoon, will be True Corp. CEO Supachai Chearavanont, in his role as Rotating Chairman of Chulalongkorn’s Meaningful Broadband Working Group.  The Forum will be October 28 at Sasin Graduate School of Business, 1-4 pm, sponsored by Cisco Systems.

“The report shows that broadband is a necessary condition for macroeconomic growth.  But Thailand ranks close to the bottom of all Asian nations in broadband deployment,” said Supachai. “The situation is reversible.  But unless the country’s leaders in government, academia, business act quickly, Thailand’s entire economy is at risk.”

The report,  A Model to Close Digital Divide, formulates a business model that would more than triple fixed and wireless broadband penetration in Thailand from the current predicted level of 17%  by 2015,  to more than 50%, a target called for by the ICT Minister Ranongrak Suwanchawee.

“The Forum, for the Chulalongkorn community, with some space available to the general public, will be opened by Dr. Charas Suwanwela, Chairman of the University Council. Individuals interested in attending the forum can register after Oct 20 at www.meaningfulbroadband.org.

Supachai recently replaced NTC commissioners as temporary leader of Meaningful Broadband Working Group, which includes the top executives of AIS, DTAC, TOT Telecom and CAT Telecom, as well as the government’s NTC.   After gaining public feedback, the report will be revised and formally presented for the consideration of the Working Group and to the Prime Minister within the next several weeks.