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  • Revolutionizing Thai Industries: TrueBusiness Unveils ‘True AI Hub’ for Seamless AI Integration and Accelerated Transformation

    Revolutionizing Thai Industries: TrueBusiness Unveils ‘True AI Hub’ for Seamless AI Integration and Accelerated Transformation

    TrueBusiness is pledging to serve as a dependable ally for Thai businesses navigating the complexities of digital and AI transformation. The company has unveiled True AI Hub, an exhaustive AI platform engineered to address the AI needs of businesses both big and small. The platform is scalable to accommodate the needs of small, medium, and large enterprises, aiming to amplify their capabilities, expedite results, keep costs in check, and bolster competitiveness in an increasingly AI-centric business environment.

    The Innovation of True AI Hub

    True AI Hub is a revolutionary platform that makes AI adoption more accessible by offering superior performance, precision, and adaptability. It caters to a broad spectrum of business needs by granting access to over 50 AI models sourced from more than 10 premier AI platform providers. The hub was designed with user-friendliness in mind, boasting a web interface and an intelligent recommendation system that proposes the most fitting AI model and capability in accordance with the business’s objectives. This enables users to conveniently access a variety of AI models all in one place.

    One of the key features of the platform is its commitment to data security. It incorporates Algorithm Guardrail, a top-tier security mechanism designed to offer robust data protection. In addition, it includes an enterprise management system with features such as centralized monitoring, cost control, and security governance, all managed via a dashboard. True AI Hub presents an affordable monthly subscription model, with prices starting at only THB 399 per user per month, thus eliminating the need for hefty initial investments.

    A Word from the Chief Business Officer

    According to Dr. Teeradet Dumrongbhalasitr, Chief Business Officer at True Corporation Plc., working closely with businesses of all sizes has given TrueBusiness deep insights into their needs and challenges in business transformation and hastening AI adoption. These challenges often require investment in effective technologies capable of producing the right outcomes. As he explained, a single AI model is not enough to tackle today’s multifaceted business issues as each model has its strengths and weaknesses, whether in terms of data-type accuracy, processing speed, or creative capabilities.

    For this reason, TrueBusiness launched ‘True AI Hub’, an all-in-one AI platform that consolidates top-tier AI capabilities in a single location. Dr. Dumrongbhalasitr went on to say that, in conjunction with EGG Digital, Thailand’s foremost big data analytics provider, they utilize AI-driven technologies to analyze data with a deep contextual understanding of consumer challenges. This approach enhances True AI Hub’s ability to truly comprehend the unique context of Thai businesses, offering tailored AI solutions that precisely, effectively, and realistically meet their specific needs across all industries. He expressed confidence that True AI Hub will emerge as a powerful instrument that catalyzes and expedites comprehensive, end-to-end transformation for businesses in the AI era.

    Questions & Answers

    What does the True AI Hub aim to offer?
    True AI Hub is a comprehensive and scalable AI platform designed to meet the AI needs of small, medium, and large enterprises. It provides access to over 50 AI models, offers robust data protection, and features an enterprise management system.

    What makes True AI Hub user-friendly?
    True AI Hub features a user-friendly web interface and an intelligent recommendation system that suggests the most suitable AI model and capability based on business objectives.

    How does True AI Hub ensure data security?
    True AI Hub incorporates Algorithm Guardrail, an enterprise-grade security mechanism, to offer robust data protection. The platform also includes an enterprise management system with centralized monitoring, cost control, and security governance.

  • Thaicom to offer 5G satellite backhaul

    Thaicom to offer 5G satellite backhaul

    Thai satellite operator Thaicom aims to carve out a new revenue stream by offering satellite backhaul capacity to the nation’s operators for their upcoming 5G networks.

    Thaicom chief commercial officer Patompob Suwansiri said that satellite will be critical to the future of 5G networks.

    According to the executive, Thaicom is currently working with operator AIS, an affiliate of its parent company InTouch Holdings, to prepare for the transition. The company already provides transponder capacity for backhaul for AIS, as well as TrueMove and operators in several other Asian nations.

    The company is looking to replace the revenue that will be lost as a result of the exit of seven Thai digital TV channels in August.

    Thaicom’s concession to operate three of its five satellites will also expire in 2021, but the company is planning to bid to obtain the operating rights to the satellite under a public-private partnership model for after the rights expire.

    While satellite will not be able to deliver the low latencies expected for 5G networks, Patompob said around 80% of data traffic usage in the 5G era will be from applications that do not require low latency and will, therefore, be suited to satellite backhaul.

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  • NBTC finalizes terms of 700-MHz auction

    NBTC finalizes terms of 700-MHz auction

    Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has finalized the proposed terms of next month’s 700-MHz auction, and has briefed the prime minister on the progress with the sale.

    The regulator plans to commence the sale of three slots of 700-MHz spectrum on June 19,.

    The three slots will each have a base price of 17.584 billion baht ($555.05 billion) for 10MHz of bandwidth, which can be payable in up to 10 installments.

    Last month the NBTC announced relief measures for the three owners of 900-MHz licenses by agreeing to split the license fees into 10 installments instead of the current four. But a condition of taking advantage of the larger number of installments will be purchasing one of the 700-MHz slots.

    According to the report, the three 900-MHz license holders – AIS, TrueMove and dtac – have expressed an interest in taking advantage of the relief measures, but are waiting on more terms of the 700-MHz allocation before making a decision.

    But True Move has previously indicated it does not plan to take part in the 700-MHz auction, although it has been pushing for an extension on its 900-MHz license payments.

    Proceeds from the sale will be used to compensate six digital TV broadcasters which have agreed to return their licenses to the regulator.

    A public hearing on the draft terms of the 700-MHz allocation will be held next week.

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  • True Move told to consider compensation over data leak

    True Move told to consider compensation over data leak

    Thai telecoms regulator NBTC has instructed mobile operator True Move H to assess the impact of its recent personal data leak and offer compensation to any affected customers.

    The regulator also plans to conduct a formal investigation into the incident and consider imposing punishments, and issue a letter demanding that mobile operators take appropriate steps to prevent similar breaches in the future.

    A security researcher recently revealed that the identity documents of up to 45,736 customers of True subsidiary iTrueMart had been exposed by being stored in a publicly-accessible Amazon S3 data bucket. The company also took more than a month to finally make the cache of files private.

    Researcher Niall Merrigan discovered the cache by scanning certificate transparency logs created when someone creates a new security certificate.

    Yet True Move H and parent True Corp are continuing to characterize the action as a data breach. A True Corp executive told that the company is considering taking legal action for hacking the data from the system, stating that he used “special tools to access data which he has no right to get into.”

    But a cloud expert noted that because the default setting for the AWS S3 service is private, True had to have intentionally set the data to public.

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  • True customers’ identity records exposed in data leak

    True customers’ identity records exposed in data leak

    Thailand’s True Corp has fixed a data leak involving the exposure of identity records on up to around 45,000 of its customers.

    Security researcher Niall Merrigan discovered personal data on customers of True Corp’s e-commerce subsidiary iTrueMart (now WeMall) stored in a public-facing Amazon S3 bucket in March.

    The 32GB data cache included 45,736 files, consisting mainly of JPG and PDF scans of identity documents including scanned ID cards, drivers licenses and possibly passports.

    In a blog post, Merrigan said he informed True Corp’s mobile unit True Move H about the breach on March 10, but the company took no action until he went to the media in early April. The files were finally made private on April 12.

    Merrigan indicated that True Corp seems to be misrepresenting the incident as a hack, but there was no security on the data bucket and anybody could have found and downloaded all the files.

    Telecoms regulator NBTC is investigating the incident, and may impose penalties on True Corp for exposing customer information. The stored identity records may have been collected as part of the Thai government’s mandatory SIM registration scheme, which has already been a target of identity thieves and has been opposed by privacy advocates.

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  • Thai telcos bracing for a challenging 2017

    Thai telcos bracing for a challenging 2017

    After a rough 2016 there is no respite in sight for Thailand’s telecoms sector, with operators still dealing with heavy costs accrued from recent 4G auctions, strict competition and OTT challengers.

    AIS CEO Somchai Lertsuthivong as stating that he has never seen as challenging a year for the mobile sector as 2016, after nearly three decades of experience.

    AIS and DTAC, which together have a revenue market share of around 80%, have both cut their financial forecasts for 2016 as a result of these challenges.

    AIS expects to report an eibtda margin decline of between 37% and 38% in 2016 from 45.6% in 2015 due to the rising costs as well as one-off expenses related to the shutdown of its 2G network. Dtac expects its ebitda margin to decline to 27% to 30% compared to 31.8% in 2015.

    Operators expect 2017 to be just as challenging. As well as high spectrum costs, operators have had to grapple with a surge in operating costs as they offered heavy subsidies including free 4G handsets to lure customers.

    The sector will also have to deal with surging data consumption as 4G take-up increases. According to the report, Dtac plans to transition away from competing on price with heavy subsidies, and instead compete by offering a superior customer experience.

    AIS is meanwhile responding to the OTT threat by pursuing more digital partnerships with local content providers and businesses. Operators are also exploring partnering with cable providers to offer triple-play services bundling internet, telephone and TV.

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  • Thailand’s big three cellcos oppose tariff caps

    Thailand’s big three cellcos oppose tariff caps

    Thailand’s three largest mobile operators – AIS, Dtac and True Move – have united to oppose current regulations capping tariffs for 3G and 4G services.

    The operators brought up their opposition a group discussion with regulator NBTC on Monday.

    Revising the regulations would encourage greater competition and stimulate the further development of mobile networks and services, the operators claimed.

    They have argued that existing caps have diminished the development of service packages, distorted price mechanisms and impeded the operation of an open and competitive market.

    Currently the NBTC caps the maximum 3G tariff at 0.82 baht ($0.02) per minute for voice service, 1.33 baht per SMS, 3.32 baht for MMS and 0.28 baht for data services. The equivalent 4G limits are 0.69 baht, 1.15 baht, 3.11 baht and 0.26 baht respectively.

    A representative for Dtac stated that other mobile markets with the same level of development as Thailand do not impose tariff caps, and noted that tariffs in Thailand are among the lowest in the ASEAN region.

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  • Thailand will tighten call drop regulations

    Thailand will tighten call drop regulations

    Thai regulator NBTC will introduce stricter standards governing the quality of mobile signals in an effort to address a growing number of complaints related to dropped calls.

    The NBTC will amend current regulations, which require operators not to exceed a dropped call rate of 15% across all calls, to instead require operators to maintain this rate in each of Thailand’s service areas.

    The new regulations, which are expected to come into effect in September, have been implemented in response to the fact that in more busy service areas with congested traffic dropped call rates are much higher than the average.

    In addition to the new regulation, the NBTC has given five mobile operators – AIS, Dtac, True Move, CAT Telecom and TOT – 15 days to resolve their dropped call problems.

    According to the report as of May there were 994 complaints involving dropped calls from AIS, 497 from Dtac, 386 from True Move, 32 from CAT and seven from TOT. Complaints are picking up now operators are focusing on customer acquisition strategies to maximize their 4G investments.

    Indian regulator Trai is also focusing heavily on the issue of call drops.

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  • Thailand’s AIS faces $71k fine per day

    Thailand’s AIS faces $71k fine per day

    Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has written to AIS warning of $71,114 (2.5 million Baht) a day fines unless they complete the handover of 300,000 subscribers to TrueMove under the mobile number portability system by May 10th.

    Thai language daily Thairath reported that AIS has refused to release the subscribers due to incomplete or erroneous documentation. The story also said that AIS had no problems with Dtac all valid Dtac porting requests had been completed.

    Earlier we reported on how the government was trying to force AIS to sign an MOU with True and allow the NBTC to step in with the final say on MNP with no recourse of appeal.

    AIS did not respond to request for comment by the time of going to press.

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  • Thai government leans on AIS to surrender 8m users to True

    Thai government leans on AIS to surrender 8m users to True

    A newspaper report has accused deputy prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, NBTC Secretary-General Takorn Tantasit and ICT Minister Uttama Savanayana of trying to strongarm AIS into handing over 8 million 2G customers to TrueMove in a meeting last week.

    In a report, Thai-language newspaper Manager said that the three – along with ICT Permanent Secretary Songporn Komolsuradej, AIS CEO Somchai Lertsutiwong and True CEO Supachai Chearavanont – recently held a meeting in which Takorn had drafted an MOU for the participants to sign.

    The MOU would force AIS to sign a new roaming agreement with True and scrap its current 2G roaming agreement with Dtac. Another key point was that it would also give the NBTC oversight and jurisdiction in number portability from AIS to TrueMove. The MOU allegedly stipulated that the NBTC’s judgement in this matter would be final and there would no appeal.

    The report said that Takorn kept trying to coerce the AIS CEO into signing the MOU but Somchai refused, saying he had to consult with his board first and that besides there was no need as of yet as AIS was going to bid for the 900-MHz spectrum and even if that failed, they had the 2G roaming agreement with Dtac.

    Manager quoted the MICT source as saying the NBTC-drafted MOU clearly was illegal not just under NBTC’s own laws, but under Thailand’s WTO obligations.

    Manager quoted another anonymous source in the NBTC saying that the meeting was called under the orders of the “big boss” who wants the matter to be done and dusted as soon as possible. The source also highlighted conflict of interest pointing out that Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu’s son was now working at one of AIS’ competitors.

    Wissanu’s son, Dr Witchaya Krea-ngam, is currently a specialist for government relations at True Corporation.

    The draft MOU has also been leaked online by someone calling themselves @NBTCnews on Twitter.

    Earlier the issue of number portability had descended into a fierce war with True launching an aggressive campaign and paperless MNP request system that Dtac and AIS refused to acknowledge as legally binding. The NBTC ordered Dtac and AIS to accept the paperless porting requests, to which the two telcos stood their ground saying they would obey the law.

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  • Premium SMS Scam in Thailand by Foreign Content Providers

    Premium SMS Scam in Thailand by Foreign Content Providers

    Scammers create SMS competitions or trivia scams to trick you into paying extremely high call or text rates when replying to an unsolicited text message on your mobile or smart phone. Over the last few months mobile operators in Thailand managed to close some sms gateways from frauduleus foreign content providers like Mexcomm.

    A Malaysian company, with offices in Thailand who’s tricking mobile users offering free gifts and promises to win numerous prizes. All fake. True Move together with AIS and DTAC are doing everything they can and even created mobile scam teams to reveal the companies behind these marketing techniques. Shortcode 4741777 was used by one of them, to trick unwilling clients and let them pay high mobile fees. Mobile operators have shut down the companies shortcode and is on the look for other companies who’r running similar marketing campaigns.

    According to their website, Mexcomm has won several mobile content prizes. You can question this, as most of the events were sponsored direct or indirectly by the company over the last decade.

    How this scam works

    An unsolicited text message may invite you to enter a competition for a great prize—for example, a smart phone or tablet or gift vouchers for a well-known retailer. You will be required to send a text message back. You may also receive an email or encounter a pop-up window online asking you to enter your mobile number in order to claim a prize you’ve supposedly won. Sometimes these come in the guise of a ‘customer survey’ in which you are prompted to provide your mobile number.

    Alternatively the message may invite you to take part in a trivia contest with a great prize on offer if you answer a certain number of questions correctly. The first lot of questions will be very easy – scammers do this intentionally to encourage you to keep playing. However, the last one or two questions that you need to answer to claim your ‘prize’ could be very difficult or impossible to answer correctly and may even require you to guess a random number.

    The scammers make money by charging extremely high rates for the text messages you send, and any further messages they send to you. These charges will not be made clear to you, and could be as high as $4 for each message sent and/or received. You may also be automatically subscribed to ongoing charges. You will not discover these charges until you see your next itemised phone bill.

    Warning signs

    • You receive a text message, which may look like an advertisement, offering you the chance to win a great prize by sending a return text to enter a competition.
    • A text message tells you that you could win a great prize by participating in a trivia competition over SMS. The first message may even contain a very easy question to tempt you.
    • The text message (or advertisement) does not contain all the terms and conditions, or an ‘opt out’ to stop receiving more messages.

    Protect yourself

    • Do not respond to text messages or missed calls that come from numbers you don’t recognise.
    • Look out for SMS and MMS numbers that start with 19 or phone numbers beginning with 190. These are charged at a premium rate, even sometimes for receiving a message, and can be very expensive.
    • Contact your mobile phone service provider to ask about the number—they will know if it comes from a premium rate service. Ask your telephone company to put a bar on premium rate services (190 numbers) to and from your phone.
    • If you did not want to participate and you receive more messages, contact your mobile phone service provider and explain that the charges are being made without your permission.
    • Do not provide your mobile number to websites or in response to unsolicited emails claiming you can win a prize without very carefully checking the terms and conditions. If there are no terms and conditions or they seem to be hidden from plain view, don’t risk it.
    • Read all terms and conditions of any offer very carefully. Claims of ‘free’ or ‘very cheap’ offers often have hidden costs. Before you sign up to a subscription service check that there is an option to ‘unsubscribe’.

    Retail News will hold a close watch and will monitor this more the next few weeks and months.

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  • 4G auctions set to generate B1.3tn

    4G auctions set to generate B1.3tn

    A woman walks past telecom and cable lines along Phahon Yothin road. The 4G auction is expected to spur huge investment in telecom lines. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL

    The imminent fourth generation (4G) spectrum auctions could stimulate direct and indirect investment valued at 1.3 trillion baht over the next five years.

    The development will also transform Thailand into an internet-empowered economy and add impetus to the country becoming an Asean digital infrastructure hub by 2020, said Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

    The private sector, meanwhile, believes that having faster high-speed mobile network technology will promote the country’s e-commerce.

    The NBTC expects to receive at least 73 billion baht from the 4G spectrum auctions of four licences in November. The revenue will pass directly to state coffers, Mr Takorn said at a seminar entitled ‘4G: the turning point of the country’.

    The winning bidders of the 4G auctions must roll out networks worth a combined 160 billion baht in 2016.

    An additional 260 billion baht will come from telecom-related businesses and employment in 2017, plus another 300 billion baht in 2018.

    Based on an internal estimate, Mr Takorn said all direct and indirect investment stemming from the 4G auctions would reach 1.3 trillion bay by 2020, in line with a study by the economics faculty of Chiang Mai University.

    “Thailand can no longer afford to lose this opportunity for the sake of our country and our people,” he said.

    There are 104 million mobile subscribers in Thailand, only 4 million of whom are 2G users.

    Worawoot Aunjai, chief executive of Central Online Plc, said having a 4G infrastructure would directly benefit the local e-commerce and online trading industry. It will also encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to grab a bigger slice of the e-commerce market.

    “Companies without technology will find it nearly impossible to flourish in the current business environment,” he said.

    Mr Worawoot said development of the 4G infrastructure was essential to accommodate the rapidly changing needs and growth of businesses.

    He said Thailand’s retail trade via online transactions accounted for only 1% of total retail trading value, compared with 5.8% of the average global retail market and 12% in China.

    Global online trading is expected to account for some 20% of total retail trade by 2020.

    Mr Worawoot said online trading was expected to reach 8% of the total retail trade in Thailand by 2020.

    “The growth of online trading will be in line with the quality of wireless connection and affordable mobile devices,” he said, adding that 4G service will play a crucial role in driving the local e-commerce industry.

    Mr Worawoot said Central Group’s annual retail sales were expected to reach 260 billion baht this year, half of which will be conducted via mobile devices.

    Ariya Banomyong, managing director of Line Thailand, said the quality of wireless connections and telecom infrastructure could attract foreign investment from global tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple.

    “This will promote Thailand as a regional digital infrastructure hub,” he added.

    Vichai Bencharongkul, honorary president of the Telecommunications Association of Thailand, said developing an internet-based economy would essentially need a high-speed telecom infrastructure, developing knowledge workers and building organisational confidence with digital practices.

    4G service is expected to ensure wireless service continuity and provide business recovery experience, thanks to the greater speed of wireless data services, said Mr Vichai.

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