The Next Step In Wireless Multimedia For Thailand

DTAC announced cooperation with world’s leader in mobile communications Nokia to strengthen its position as the leading wireless data services provider.

The latest cooperation is a trial of Nokia’s Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology on DTAC’s network, according to DTAC Co-Chief Executive Officer Sigve Brekke.

“Although we are very pleased with our network right now, we welcome this trial as it enables us to be the first operator in Thailand to roll out EDGE when there is considerable market demand,” said Mr. Brekke.

DTAC is the first operator in Thailand and South East Asia to trial EDGE. If deployed, EDGE will enhance data transmission speed and allow users to use more innovative and advance services.

DTAC is currently using General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a 2.5G mobile technology. The entire EDGE trial is expected to complete in May.

“There was a clear shift in interest towards EDGE in 2002. Many operators worldwide have started to roll out GSM/EDGE hardware. We at Nokia are delighted that DTAC has demonstrated strong commitment to the global standard of GSM and its trust in Nokia. We are excited to trial our EDGE technology with DTAC,” according to Kristian Strand, Account Director, Nokia Networks.

To date, Nokia has supplied DTAC with Nokia Base Station Subsystems, Nokia Switching Subsystem and GPRS Core Network, Nokia Multimedia messaging Centre (MMSC) and Short Message Service Centre (SMSC).

Nokia has delivered EDGE capable GSM hardware to 36 customers in 23 countries since December 2001. It plans to have 14 EDGE trials in all continents later this year.

DTAC has been in collaboration with Nokia since the 1990s to offer Thailand a nationwide GPRS/Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) coverage. The operator reportedly spent about Bt500 million on deploying GPRS on its entire network, which now reaches 92 per cent of the population.

DTAC is currently the only operator to offer MMS to both prepaid and postpaid customers nationwide. The company reported a steady rise in number of MMS usage from 1,000 messages per day in February to over 2,000 messages a day at present.

To further stimulate more usage of MMS, Mr. Brekke said DTAC and Nokia would join forces in conducting a series of trainings across the country to educate Thai users on the benefits of this new technology.

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DTAC announced cooperation with world’s leader in mobile communications Nokia to strengthen its position as the leading wireless data services provider.