Telenor’s 25 Years in Thailand: A Foundation Laid in the Past, an Impact Created in the Present, and Vision of a Sustainable Future

View original article (in Thai) on The Standard website

The waves of signals traveling through the air are more than just a connection—they’re the start of a profound, invisible transformation. For 25 years, Telenor’s journey in Thailand has proven that what it provides to Thai society is far greater than just a “signal” on a mobile phone. It is a wave of opportunity that has powered the lives of people and the nation’s economy.

The first chapter began when communication was limited to a narrow circle and mobile phones were an expensive technology that few could afford. Telenor’s investment in dtac created a significant ripple effect that would later shape Thailand’s telecommunications landscape.

The transformation of dtac made service fees and devices more affordable than ever before, turning them from luxuries into essential tools for daily life. This gave more than 20 million Thai people their first connection to this new world, a starting point that allowed everyone’s voice to be heard and sent farther than ever before.

When people connect, society changes. The expansion of the network to cover all 77 provinces_¹ (as of March 1, 2023, after the merger into True Corporation) not only broke down the barriers of distance to bring families closer but also became a lifeline for countless small businesses to be born and thrive.

More than just building a network, it’s about nurturing the seeds of the future. The ‘dtac accelerate’ project, over its seven-year run, has mentored more than 60 startups², providing them with essential funding, knowledge, and networks to build an ecosystem of young entrepreneurs ready to drive the country’s digital economy.

Today’s more complex world requires stronger power. The 2023 merger to form True Corporation was the answer to elevating the country’s digital infrastructure to seize future opportunities in a more sustainable manner.

The result is a broader and deeper positive impact than ever before. Today, over 50 million customers³ have access to a seamless, all-in-one digital lifestyle on a powerful 5G network that covers 93% of the Thai population⁴, becoming a vital digital infrastructure for the entire country.

The strong foundation of today is a launchpad for the future. Telenor sees the future not just in terms of technology but in the responsible use of it, leading the way on Responsible AI use and setting global standards with GSMA⁵ . True Corporation is the first organisation in Thailand to adopt these standards, which aims to embed responsible AI practices into every facet of their work.

Beyond technology, Telenor remains committed to bringing best practices and international standards on climate action, human rights, health & safety, and data privacy to Thailand. Part of its ethos is to focus on culture building, breaking down silos in open offices, building competencies and creating an open mindset where AI becomes part of how they work, innovate, and serve customers.

The key to this transformation, of course, is people. True Corporation’s offers opportunities for continuous development and upskilling, with an average of 36 hours of training per year⁶, and 88% of them having received digital skills training by 2024⁷.This prepares and develops them to become the country’s strongest technology workforce.

Over the past 25 years, it’s clear that the signals don’t just stay on a phone screen. They travel to create opportunities, improve quality of life, and build a better future for everyone in Thailand. This is the story of a wave of signals that is supporting in transforming a nation.

Past

Laying the Foundation, Creating Opportunities with dtac

• Customers: Enabled over 20 million people in Thailand to connect and communicate.
• Society: Expanded network to cover all 77 provinces
• People Introduced the concept of ‘open offices’ to foster collaborative work culture

Present

Expanding Impact, Elevating Digital Lives with True Corporation

• Customers: Serving over 50 million customers with a 5G network covering 93% of the population.
• Society: Empowered over 32 million Thai people with digital skills 
• People: 88% of True Corporation’s employees have received digital skills training, with an average of 36 hours of training per year.

Future

Driving the Future with Vision and Technology

• Customers: Enhancing services with AI for a more intuitive and personalized experience.
• Society: Carbon neutrality by 2030
• People: Committed to building a future-ready workforce, equipped to grow with AI technology.

Article republished with permission from The Standard. View the original article in Thai here.

Sources:

¹https://trueblog.info/blog/en/network-roaming-services

²https://techsauce.co/news/the-end-of-dtac-accelerate

 ³https://investor.true.th/en/about-true/company-information

 ⁴https://investor.true.th/storage/downloads/financial-documents/2024/20250227-true-or2024-enc-04-en.pdf (page 13)

⁵https://aiforimpacttoolkit.gsma.com/responsible-ai/responsible-ai-roadmap

⁶https://www.telenorasia.com/about/people-and-culture/

 ⁷https://investor.truecorp.co.th/misc/Bulletin/20250220-true-bulletin-fy2024-en.pdf (page 12)

Article republished with permission from The Standard. View the original article in Thai here.