Bangkok--17 Jan--AIS
AIS joins force with Business Partners announcing AIS Vision 2013 Moving Forward, proclaiming 2013 the year of Moving Forward for every industry as a result of telecommunication infrastructure development starting with the full scale of 2100 MHz 3G technology driving competition opportunity and strengthening Thailand.
Mr. Somprasong Boonyachai, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited or AIS, disclosed. “So far telecom industry, as country’s major infrastructure, has benefited country and people in various aspects including liberating world of communication every time and place on an equal basis, enhancing competitiveness, constructing unlimited opportunity for every interest group, contributing to over 2% of GDP, creating over 300,000 jobs, adding value to various industries such as new purchase channel for music business with over 20 million songs purchase per year, digital reading for Thai people with over 200,000 E-book downloads per month, Instant news presentation for over 24 million news per month as well as brining the opportunity to increase competitive edge and vitalizing transportation, logistics, public health and education for public and private sector with no limit.”
“The year 2013 is a significant period of moving towards next step for Thailand after the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission grants the Operating License for 2100 MHz 3G to the Operators. This invites challenge to every integral part of Thailand to leverage on new technology formulating competition opportunity. The opportunity arising in communication and telecoms industry comprises of 3 components;
- The growth of Smart Device due to consumer demand to upgrade from 2G device to 3G supporting device and new target 3G customers
- Vast opportunity for the growth of Mobile Application that allows Application or Software Developers to have wide access to new market at fast speed
- New form of communication infrastructure applied to benefit a broad spectrum of industries in public and private sector such as remote education, remote public health and individual and business transportation.
Khun Somprasong indicated the growth for 2013. “Telecommunications industry will continue to grow in two areas;
- Air time service will achieve a 7% growth, contributed by 2% from voice usage and over 60% from data usage
- Handset distribution is expected to grow by 15% with over 7 million 3G supporting Smart Phones and over 1 million Tablet PCs sold.”
Regarding AIS strategy, Mr. Wichian Mektrakarn, Chief Executive Officer, unveiled. “The quality leading to Best Customer Experience remains the main service target for us to comply with. AIS is completely ready to take extra step for 3G service. By the first half of this year, service will cover major provinces in every region and reach 77 provinces in the second half. It is certain that network development will be accompanied with quality improvement in terms of stability for data usage and clarity, easy connect and continuity for voice usage. Network development is the key to communication infrastructure serving as extension base for new services and supporting sustainable growth of related industries as a consequence.”
“Concerning organization management, this year is the year of moving forward. Over 9,000 dedicated staff possessing knowledge, insight, skills and mindset capable of creating full-fledge service in the 3G period are committed to delivering the best 3G service to customers and Thai people.”
Mr. Somchai Lertsuttiwong, Chief Marketing Officer, talked about market happenings in 2013. “Consumer behavior in 2013 requires always Online connect and Social Network access via handy and modern communication device that satisfies basic work and private needs every time and place on a Real time basis. Following the ready infrastructure, we have developed services in advance in order to meet customer demand and take further step to welcome the 3G era. AIS has cooperated with Business Partners setting the new marketing benchmark which is lively and penetrates all groups in the Age of 3G ranging from
1. Launch quality Smartphones supporting 3G throughout the year under the concept “3G Mobile Phone for Thais” starting with a few thousand Baht price coming with packages tailored to individual lifestyle for every target group
2. Introduce “Extraordinary Application for Every Lifestyles” that upgrades life and gives unparalleled experience such as
- Calling Post: Show Real Time status linked from your Social Media to express your feeling to incoming callers (February 2013)
- My Cloud: Your private digital zone that store your important information transferable among every Operating Systems including Android, Windows, Apple, Symbian and BlackBerry (February 2013)
- AIS Movie Store: World of Thai / International films on your mobile phones in cooperation with two Big Movie Houses including Sahamongkol Film and GTH available on Apple and Android (February 2013)
- AIS mPay Master Card: Open the world of invaluable purchasing power from Master Card on AIS 3G Sim Card revolutionizing your spending in the 3G Age (Coming Soon)
- AIS Rabbit Smart Pass: Raise convenience in BTS commute with Rabbit card in AIS Smart Phone (Quarter 3)
- AIS Privilege App: Exclusive privileges from over 10,000 Partners at your fingertip on every Operating System of Smartphones (February 2013)
AIS shall continue to cooperate with idea owners through “AIS the Startup” project in the form of service co-development, joint venture and grant new marketing opportunity leading to the new paradigm of Application and Digital Service in the 3G period.”
“Uncompromised service is a key factor of quality service operations which require not only facilitation but insight into Customer Journey of the 3G period. Therefore AIS has spent over 2 billion Baht budget upgrading service channel and enhancing capacity of human resource such as continual expansion of AIS Shop, the launch of full AIS Online Store within the first Quarter, the repositioning of AIS Call Center to Online Call Center and the improvement of 450 Telewiz shops and 40 Telewiz Plus distributing device and providing service in the 3G period.” Khun Somchai added.
Khun Somprasong concluded. “This year competitiveness of Thailand will be strengthened by the development of telecommunication and broadcasting infrastructure starting from 3G, 4G, Digital TV and etc. We definitely have to prepare for the competition in Asean and international market. For AIS, we are ready to function as the Operator supporting and contributing to the sustainable growth of nation towards the future.”