Telecoms body asked to help expand markets

The Nation (20 November 2007)

Local makers of telecom equipment have asked the national telecom regulator's research institute to focus on supporting their marketing efforts and improving the knowledge of people who work in the IT industry, ensuring sustainable growth.

Forth Corporation's managing director Pongchai Amtanon said yesterday that the Telecommunications Research and Industrial Development Institute (TRIDI) should devise a plan to support the efforts of local companies to expand their markets.

Moreover, the institute should come up with a clear research and development plan to guide local companies into moving in the same direction.

Pongchai was speaking at a seminar entitled "The Success of the Local Telecom Equipment Manufacturing Industry", hosted by the TRIDI as part of the Bangkok International ICT Expo 2007 at Impact Muang Thong Thani.

His company manufactures telecom products from its own research and development efforts. Most of its products are for export, but among its local customers are TOT and the iPSTAR broadband satellite service of Shin Satellite.

Last week, Forth emerged as the winner of bidding for a contract to provide broadband network equipment to TOT nationwide by quoting Bt860 million. TOT says it will bargain for a lower price.

Another seminar panellist, the chief operating officer of fibre-optic equipment manufacturer Fabrinet, Teera Achariyapaopan, said the institute should also promote programmes for improving the quality of Thailand's IT workforce.

Fabrinet exports all of its products after focusing on product quality and reliability.

The National Telecommunications Commission set up the TRIDI a year ago to promote research and development in the telecom industry, especially in wireless equipment and broadband multimedia products.