Somchai Lertsutiwong, chief executive of Advanced Info Service

For 2021-22, economic recovery will be critical, while the 5G network will become a core infrastructure that could push the industrial sector forward into a new economic era, says Somchai Lertsutiwong, chief executive of Advanced Info Service (AIS), the country’s largest mobile operator by subscribers.

He said all corporations may have to gear up operational cost controls to deal with the impact from the pandemic, especially for when a new wave comes.

“The country may need 1-2 years for economic recovery until a new normal situation emerges,” said Mr Somchai.

For the telecom sector, operators could face a slight decline in profit margins due to the roll-out of promotion packages to support teleworking and streaming services, although usage of digital services and internet bandwidth is increasing.

He said AIS is committed to investing in boosting network capability to maintain its leading position in the telecom industry and support digital transformation for enterprises.

“The 5G tech is a fundamental infrastructure for innovation adoption in the new economy. AIS, as a digital service provider, cannot stop expanding network and service capacity,” said Mr Somchai.

Despite the economic slowdown and limited budgets, enterprises in 2021 cannot refrain from applying digital-driven tools and innovations to help them reduce operational cost and boost effectiveness, he said.

Corporations may need to seek opportunities in the crisis, while restructuring operations and reskilling staff to be more efficient.

Throughout 2020, AIS invested 35 billion baht in network expansion.