1. 実はここにも
How to accelerate broadband/ICT use in Thailand ?
19 March, 2010
Takahiro KONO
Advisor on ICT Policy (JICA Expert)
Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT)

2. National target : Steps taken in Japan on ICT Strategies
e-Japan e-Japan Strategy
New IT Reform New IT Reform Strategy
e-Japan Strategy II Acceleration IT Policy package
(January 2001)
Strategy Ⅱ Package (February 2005)
Strategy Policy package
(July 2003) (February 2004) (January 2006) (April 2007)
◆IT Basic Law
◆Establishment of IT Strategy Headquarters
(Director General: Prime Minister)
Realization of a
self-sustaining ICT
Society
Priority Policy
Program - 2007
Network Society
（July 2007）
Priority Policy
Ubiquitous
Realizing a
Program - 2006
（July 2006）
e-Japan Priority
Policy Program
- 2004
e-Japan (June 2004)
e-Japan Priority Policy Priority Policy
Program - 2002 Program - 2003
(June 2002) (August 2003)
u-Japan Promotion Program ２００６
e-Japan Priority （September 2006）
Policy Program
(March 2001)
e-Japan Strategy u-Japan policy of MIC
2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2010
©2008 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. All Rights Reserved. 1

3. Target of broadband infrastructure in Japan
Next Generation Broadband Strategy 2010 (Aug. 2006, MIC）
Target
By 2010FY,
①To enable all households in Japan to access to (or use)
broadband
(To eliminate broadband zero area)
②To enable more than 90% households in Japan
to access to (or use) Ultra Broadband
Ultra Broadband : more than 30Mbps
“New IT Reform Strategy” (Jan. 2006)
(IT Strategy Headquarters (Head of Prime Minister))
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4. What is broadband in Japan
1 Broadband : no clear definition
FTTH, DSL, CATV, FWA, BWA(WiMAX*) more than 1Mbps speed
*WiMAX in Japan : 10Mbps(uplink), 40Mbps(downlink)
more than 1Mbps(downlink)
FTTH, DSL,CATV, FWA,BWA + 3.5G* speed
*3.5G (HSDPA(High Speed Downlink Packet Access) in Japan :
384kbps(uplink), 3.6Mbps(downlink)
2 Ultra Broadband
FTTH more than 30Mbps speed
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5. Necessity of Broadband Network
Broadband : Basic infrastructure (same as water, gas, electricity)
No broadband environment
No young generations or no industry in rural area !!!
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6. Ratio of Households on Broadband Service Coverage
(Estimation)
FY2010
Targets
(by March 2011)
93.9% 98.3% 98.6% Elimination of
Broadband (47.33 m (50.83 m (51.59 m All Broadband
Zero Areas
households) households) households)
New IT Reform
Strategy
(IT Strategic
March 2006 March 2008
September Headquarters, 2006)
2008
Next Generation
Broadband Strategy
(MIC, 2006)
Ultra-High- 79.7% 86.5% 89.5%
Speed
(40.15 m (44.71 m (46.82 m 90%
households) households) households)
* Ultra-High-Speed: FTTH, Ultra-High-Speed CATV, etc.
Next Generation
Broadband Strategy
Total number of households: 52.88 million (as of March 2009) (MIC, 2006)
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7. Broadband Availability Map
In order to illustrate Broadband availability, Broadband Availability Map is regularly updated by MIC based on the inputs from 11
Local Broadband Promotion Committees, each of which is comprised of MIC’s Local Branch Office, Prefectures, Local Govt., and
Telecom Operators.
< Important >
How to verify the coverage area
of the broadband service ?
Hokkaido
Prefecture Tokyo
Metropolis
Ultra-High-Speed
DSL Cable Internet/Wireless
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8. Number of Broadband Subscribers in Japan
35,000,000
Population: 127.08 million 4. Exceeded 30 mil.
Dec. 2008 Total
Households: 52.88 million 31,322,000
30,000,000 VoIP subscribers: 20.22 million
(As of March 2009)
25,000,000
5. FTTH Exceeded 50%
20,000,000 2. DSL Downturn June 2009
FTTH
June 2006
16,519,000
15,000,000
DSL
10,505,000
10,000,000 1. FTTH increase > DSL increase 3. FTTH > DSL
March 2005 June 2008 CATV
4,262,000
5,000,000
FWA
13,000
0
BWA
23,000
(Unit: household) FWA: Fixed Wireless Access
BWA: Broadband Wireless Access
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9. How to expand broadband/ICT infrastructure in Thailand ?
< Japan >
Fixed Line (Copper Cable) Fixed line has been covered.
ADSL easy to expand ADSL service
Mobile(Wireless) Optical Fiber
3G, WiMAX etc. FTTH
< Thailand > # Fixed line has not been covered yet.
difficult to expand ADSL service
Fixed Line (Copper Cable)
ADSL # Mobile (Wireless) : key technology to
expand broadband infrastructure in Thailand
Mobile(Wireless)
Initial cost low
3G, WiMAX etc.
Capacity not enough
Optical Fiber
FTTH # FTTH : also required in the future
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10. Conclusion (Proposal)
1 How to accelerate broadband/ICT use in Thailand ?
(1) To build infrastructure
(2) To promote broadband use
*LTE : Long Term Evolution
100Mbps(downlink) / 50Mbps(uplink)
2 To build infrastructure
(1) To set clear mid/long-term vision/policy targets (also easy to verify) by the
Government
(2) Wireless technology (3G, 3.9G(LTE*), WiMAX etc.)
Key technology to expand broadband infrastructure in Thailand
3 To promote broadband use
- To inform people of the usefulness and attractiveness of broadband or ICT use
To show a successful example of ICT use
< Activities >
-ICT Pilot projects (Telemedicine, Tele-education etc.)
-Seminar/Workshop
-Broadband use in public sector
-Exhibitions etc.
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11. Reference
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12. Example of ICT pilot projects (e-medicine for pediatrics)
＜Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture＞
In order to assist hospitals without a specialist for children ‘s diseases, by using ICT,
the specialist supports diagnosis for children in the rural areas hospitals
Nanto Regional Medical Nurse Station
Center Home for the
Remote Consultation
elderly
hospital
Nanto Citizen Hospital
Home for the
elderly
Nanto City Medical
Association
hospital
Nanto City Central Hospital
clinic
Network for medical use
Toyama
University
Taira Medical Office
Toga Medical Office
Kamidaira Medical
Office Remote Consultation
Remote Consultation
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13. Key Drivers for Japan’s Broadband Expansion
1. Clear mid/long-term Vision/Policy targets set Chronology
by the Government
Phase 2 (2004-present)
2. Introduction of Competition Measures by MIC - Sep. 2004 K-Opti.com, a subsidiary of an electric
- Unbundling Rule (line-sharing) and Co-Location Rule power company, started low-priced
combo service of FTTH & VoIP for
3. Demand-pull market expansion due to wide 5,200/month, cheaper than total price of
spread of broadband contents ADSL & ordinary phone of 5,547/month
- Large photo files, e-mail with attached files,
YouTube, websites with Flash function, Peer-to-peer Phase 1 (1999-2004)
file sharing etc. - Sep. 2001 Yahoo! BB started low-priced ADSL service
(8Mbps, 2,280/month)
4. A Monthly Flat Rate - Apr. 2001 Unbundling Rules for Optical Fiber
- Sep. 2000 Unbundling Rules (line-sharing) for Copper
5. Introduction of attractive new price packages Cable (97/month)
by competitors - Sep. 2000 Co-Location Rules
- Yahoo! BB (2,280/month, Sep. 2001) - Dec. 1999 Tokyo Metallic Com. started ADSL
- K-Opti.com (FTTH/VoIP Combo 5,200/month, Sep. commercial test (5,500, later transferred
2004) to commercial)
6. NTT’s steady investment in optical fiber network Phase 0 (1994-1999)
that accommodates wide FTTH expansion - Government-led strategic target of optical fiber
- Access Network Opticalization Ratio: 43%(FY2000), deployment and NTT’s steady investment.
89%(FY2007)
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14. Promotion Schemes for Nationwide Broadband Deployment
Measures for Local Governments Measures for Telecommunications Operators
Grants/Subsidies Interest Aid
National Institute of Information and Communications
1. Local Information and Communications Infrastructure Technology (NICT) will grant a subsidy of interest aid with
Development Grants (ICT Grant) a maximum interest of 2% for a loan made by a
• Grants equivalent to one third of total project cost will be telecommunications operator from a fund for building
provided to local governments that will build broadband broadband facilities, such as optical fiber and DSL, for
facilities to address the digital divides. providing telecommunications service.
• Budget: 7.9 billion yen (FY2009―April 2009 to March Debt Guarantee
2010)
2. Local Intranet Infrastructure Facility Development NICT will guarantee 80% of a loan made by a private
telecommunications operator from a fund for building
Promotion Grants
broadband facilities, such as optical fiber and ADSL, for
• Grants equivalent to one third of total project cost will be providing telecommunications service.
provided to local governments that will build broadband
or ultra-high-speed local public networks connecting Tax Breaks
public facilities such as schools, libraries, and municipal 1. Accelerated Tax Depreciation (National Tax)
offices. Accelerated tax depreciation is allowed for
• Budget: 2.2 billion yen (FY2009―April 2009 to March telecommunications operators building broadband
Local Government Financial Measures
2010) facilities, such as optical fiber and ADSL, for providing
telecommunications service.
Local Governments are allowed to use Special Local
Allocation Tax and to issue local government Bonds, 2. Reduction of Tax Bases for Fixed Asset Taxes (Local Tax)
such as Depopulated Area Development Bonds, for a Partial reduction of the tax base for fixed asset taxes is
variety of their policy needs, and they may utilize allowed for telecommunications operators building
these schemes for building broadband facilities, such broadband facilities, such as optical fiber and ADSL, for
as optical fiber and ADSL. providing telecommunications service.
Note: Conditions apply for each scheme.
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