Telenor keeps faith with investment
Telenor Group, the major shareholder in Total Access Communication Plc (DTAC), says it is committed to continuing investment in Thailand and vows to fully support the government’s digital development and Thailand 4.0 initiative focused on added value, high technology and innovation.
Speaking after paying a courtesy call to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday, Sigve Brekke, chief executive and president of Norway’s Telenor, said the company is committed to providing mobile internet and digital services for all and supporting the government’s ambitious digital development and innovation scheme. Telenor has invested 68 billion baht in Thailand.
This year marks 17 years for Telenor operating in Thailand. Mr Brekke said the Oslo-based company has made a significant contribution to the Thai economy through its strategic business partner DTAC, citing a recent study by international consulting firm KPMG that DTAC’s roll-out of 3G and 4G services during 2011-15 contributed up to 1.3 trillion baht to the country through socioeconomic benefits from mobile internet services.
The same report projected DTAC’s operations in Thailand had generated more than 170,000 direct and indirect jobs.
DTAC’s mobile network covers 95% of the Thai population, while its 4G coverage is up to 78%. Mr Brekke said Telenor and DTAC are committed to supporting the government’s vision of Thailand 4.0, focusing on digital entrepreneurship, digital inclusion and digital literacy.
The company also expects a startup ecosystem will be fostered through the DTAC accelerator programme, creating 30,000 jobs by 2020.
DTAC supports digital inclusion through the “Smart Farmer Programme”, jointly developed by the mobile company and the Agricultural Extension Department, aiming to empower 100,000 young farmers to digitise their value chain by 2020.
Telenor and DTAC are also supporters of public-private partnerships as a means to ensure access to digital infrastructure across the nation while preparing for future spectrum needs to cater for increased data usage.
Earlier this year, DTAC signed a memorandum of understanding with four ministries to promote the use of digital technology among agricultural cooperatives, farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.
Weerachon Sukonthapatiak, a deputy government spokesman, said Gen Prayut asked Telenor to invest in Digital Park Thailand, which will be established in the Eastern Economic Corridor to promote high technology.
Maj Gen Weerachon said Gen Prayut also praised Telenor for its continued investment in Thailand and in helping to build the country’s telecom service and digital development.