True Group has announced its 2013 business direction with a focus on strengthening its financial position in readiness for free competition as well as maintaining its leadership in 3G and convergence by placing importance on developing innovative products and services for customers. True has allocated THB 26,500 million for business expansion across the group including the expansion of TrueOnline’s broadband network to cover 61 provinces in Thailand, expecting to acquire 330,000 new subscribers. True Group is also aiming to rollout 3G services on the 2.1 GHz frequency under the TrueMove H brand within the second quarter of 2013 to reinforce its 3G leadership position with even greater nationwide coverage, and to acquire additional subscribers amounting to 6 million. TrueVisions will reinforce its position as the leading provider of world-class content and expand its partnership with local pay TV operators throughout the country, increasing its subscriber base to 3.5 million households across Thailand. True Group will also continue its commitment to help develop Thailand into a knowledge-based society by applying all technologies within the group to its True Plook Panya program and further add an additional schools in 2013.
Mr. Suphachai Chearavanont, President & CEO, True Corporation Plc said “True will continue to maintain its convergence leadership in 2013 by strengthening its core businesses, TrueOnline, True Mobile Group, and TrueVisions to create new experiences, elevate service levels and create more value for True Group’s customers. For expansion of these businesses, we have allocated approximately THB 10,000 million for TrueOnline, and THB 15,000 million for True Mobile Group, while THB 1,500 million for TrueVisions is the same as in the previous year.
“In 2012 TrueOnline was instrumental in raising the norm in Thailand’s broadband industry by introducing new technologies and upgrading the standard speed along with innovative marketing. Throughout this year, TrueOnline upgraded the standard speed for its subscribers from 7 Mbps to 10 Mbps and expanded its broadband network to cover 61 provinces across Thailand with DOCSIS 3.0 technology which made TrueOnline the one and only provider to successfully implement and market its Triple Play convergence strategy by combing broadband, cable TV and fixed telephone line into a product offering that provides value for customers. In 2013 TrueOnline will maintain its market leadership by expanding its network to all provinces in Thailand and increase its customer base with over 330,000 new subscribers.
“During 2012, True Mobile Group grew by leaps and bounds following the launch of TrueMove H’s 3G+ services on the 850 MHz frequency which now covers all 77 provinces across Thailand. The introduction of 3G technology greatly changed mobile
broadband usage for quick access to information, news, knowledge and entertainment and saw True Mobile Group’s subscriber base grow to over 20 million. Other contributing factors include network expansion to provide the most coverage and product offerings of affordable 3G-enabled devices to reach a wider market resulting in more opportunities through easier access to 3G technology.
“In 2013, True Mobile Group will start rolling out 3G (2.1 GHz) services under the TrueMove H brand within the second quarter in order to reaffirm its leadership in 3G with the widest coverage as well as support increased data usage which is expected to be approximately 40% or more, similar to the previous year’s growth. True Mobile Group also expects to increase its subscriber base by an additional 6 million subscribers bringing the total to 26 million in 2013.
“TrueVisions was highly successful with the implementation of its broadcast system replacement for its nationwide subscribers in 2012. The new MPEG-4 technology provides more security in helping to combat piracy and is also capable of delivering High Definition (HD) content, of which there are currently up to 17 TrueVisions HD channels. Moreover, TrueVisions had also introduced new world-class content and partnered with local pay TV operators to increase its subscriber base during the year. In 2013, TrueVisions will continue to maintain its leadership in sourcing world-class content, partner with more local pay TV operators, and expects to increase its total subscribers to 3.5 million.
“True Group’s ongoing commitment education under its True Plook Panya program, launched n 2007, now covers 4,000 schools across Thailand which include over 70,000 teachers and more than 1.5 million students who are all able to access digital educational content through True Group’s technologies to enhance and broaden the learning experience. Moreover, True Group’s 3G+ project for schools and communities under the True Plook Panya initiative has helped more than 900 of the 4,000 schools and provincial health centers in remote areas, which don’t have fixed-line broadband but are under TrueMove H’s 3G+ coverage area, to have online access to knowledge and information.
“With a strong combination of it’s convergence strategy, 3G leadership, along with customer-focused product and service development, True Group is confident that it will be able expand its businesses further and with financial stability in readiness for free competition in 2013,” concluded Mr. Suphachai.
