TOT pumps B38bn into networks
TOT Plc’s board approved two big projects worth a combined 38 billion baht to help boost revenue in the long term.
They are aimed at transforming the state telecom operator into a network service provider.
The first is worth 32.5 billion baht, a nationwide fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network for 2 million ports, while the other is a 5-billion-baht submarine cable project in Satun and Songkhla provinces.
Chairman Udom Puasakul said the two projects require approval from the Information and Communication Technology Ministry and the National Economic and Social Development Board before being endorsed by the cabinet this year.
‘‘If everything goes as planned, TOT will start its expansion next year,’’ he said.
FTTH is a broadband network architecture using optical fibres to replace all or part of the usual metal local loop used for last-mile telecommunications, thereby increasing speeds.
The FTTH project will be installed within three years to serve growing bandwidth demand.
Chief executive Yongyuth Wattanasin said a broadband fibre-optic network will be essential in the near future, as it can distribute more bandwidth and is more stable than a wireless network.
Last year, CTH Plc signed an agreement with TOT to rent the latter’s fibreoptic lines as its backbone to serve 345 cable TV operators that recently joined its cable network.
CTH now serves 3.5 million households and expects to have 10 million subscribers over the next four years.
For the submarine cable project, TOT will develop submarine branching units (SBUs) for stations in Satun and Songkhla.
The SBU in Satun will connect to the Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe cable system, while the one in Songkhla will connect to the SingaporeJapan cable network.
Submarine communications cables are laid on the seabed between landbased stations to carry telecommunications signals across long stretches of ocean.