Thailand 5G Updates: Ericsson and Intel to Power Up 5G Enterprise Adoption in Thailand, What’s In the Cards?

Ericsson and Intel recently announced in June 2023 their collaborative efforts to enhance the development of 5G infrastructure in Thailand. The partnership will see the companies collaborate to showcase to Thai Communication Service Providers (CSPs) the means to accelerate the adoption of 5G technology and expand their Business-to-Business (B2B) interactions through the use of 5G applications. Additionally, the companies will also support the Thai CSPs with their technological expertise in areas such as Massive Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO), dual and triple band radios, virtualized Radio Access Network (RAN), and distributed architectures to bolster the network performance and resilience of the Thai CSPs. Key sectors, such as manufacturing, transport, and logistics, were identified as the focal points for the joint development of enterprise use cases by Ericsson and Intel. The intention behind this focus is to showcase the numerous benefits of 5G in these specific areas, with the ultimate goals of accelerating 5G adoption and facilitating the digital transformations of enterprises operating within these sectors.

Through the partnership, Ericsson and Intel aim to drive the digital transformation of local enterprises, support Thailand's 5G leadership, and contribute to the Thailand 4.0 vision.

The enterprise 5G landscape in Thailand has experienced favorable growth and developments, driven by a range of factors. These include the presence of supportive government policies and the availability of resources within the Asia-Pacific region.

For one, Thailand has been among the first countries in the Asia-Pacific region to issue 5G spectrum licenses. The auction held in February 2020 included the 700 Megahertz (MHz), 2600 MHz, and 26 Gigahertz (GHz) bands, and this well-balanced spectrum portfolio has empowered Thai CSPs to deliver high-quality Mobile Broadband (MBB) services and expand 5G coverage at the same time. Importantly, the Thai government has also taken an active role in ensuring that 5G technology will further benefit the country’s economic and social developments with the “Action Plan for Promoting the Adoption of 5G Technology in Thailand Phase 1” framework. Also, during the Thailand 5G Summit 2022, Thai Prime Minister Prayut underlined Thailand’s ambition to become a digital hub in Southeast Asia. He further noted that the Thailand 5G Alliance would aim to expand cooperation between the public and private sectors to “commercially drive Thailand’s 5G technology development in every industry” and boost digital innovation. The Thai government is very much expected to continue to play a key and active role in developing the 5G ecosystem in Thailand.

The 5G development in Thailand has also benefited from the mature and advanced 5G ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region with Thai CSPs leveraging South Korea’s and China’s ecosystems to develop 5G services. For example, AIS signed an agreement with South Korean LG U+ to import Virtual Reality (VR)/Augmented Reality (AR) 5G content, while TrueMove H (now known as True Corporation after the merger with dtac in March 2023) partnered with China-based Bifrost Cloud to provide cloud gaming services. In a collaborative effort, AIS and ZTE, a China-based company, have partnered to establish the "5G A-Z Center," a 5G innovation hub in Thailand. Through a strategic partnership outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), both companies aim to advance 5G technology and bolster the development of digital infrastructure in Thailand. Additionally, as the first 5G smart hospital project in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, and Huawei Technologies have also established a Joint Innovation Lab to “develop new innovations and create new value by utilizing new digital technologies” in Thailand. More collaborations are expected in the future, as Thai stakeholders continue to partner with regional Asia-Pacific peers to support the development of a diverse 5G ecosystem in Thailand.

With the presence of supportive government policies and the resources available in the Asia-Pacific region, ABI Research forecasts a favorable landscape for the development of enterprise 5G in Thailand. This positive environment also puts Thai CSPs in a good position to achieve commercial success in enterprise 5G.

ABI Research recommends that Thai CSPs continue to deepen collaboration with regional peers in the Asia-Pacific markets. The Asia-Pacific region has become a center of 5G innovations and Thai CSPs could significantly benefit from further collaborations with key stakeholders in China’s enterprise 5G market. Thai CSPs, such as AIS, have already partnered with China’s ZTE and ASEAN’s first 5G smart hospital has been jointly launched in Thailand by the Thai government, Siriraj Hospital, and Huawei Technologies. Thai CSPs have much to gain from further collaborations with key players in the mature and advanced 5G enterprise markets of China, South Korea, and Japan. Thai CSPs could also further benefit from learning from the business models of CSPs in major markets. For example, the three major CSPs in China have registered growing traction in the 5G industrial sector, with gains in revenue from deploying private networks for enterprises (see ABI Insight “China: Market Updates and Commercial Opportunities in the World’s Largest 5G Market”). Thai CSPs could also learn from Chinese CSPs’ business innovations, their commercial involvement in China’s industrial sectors, and their industry-specific enterprise 5G use cases.

Overall, Thailand's enterprise 5G market is in a good position for success, thanks to favorable government policies and a thriving Asia-Pacific regional ecosystem, which are expected to provide the necessary impetus. Thai CSPs should continue to collaborate and deepen ties with regional Asia-Pacific counterparts to provide innovative digital services and create new enterprise value.