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Thailand AIS Speeds Up 5G investment With Huawei Among Core Network Bidders
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July 20, 2020 News

 

Thailand’s largest mobile operator Advanced Info Service Pcl planned to spend around $1.42 billion this year on infrastructure, and Huawei was among the five companies bidding to build its 5G core networks, according to media reports.

AIS, certified by GSMA as the first mobile operator in ASEAN to have launched commercial 5G services, aimed to build the first 5G core networks this month in the capital Bangkok and the industrial hub Eastern Economic Corridor, AIS president Hui Weng Cheong told Reuters in a recent interview.

“We are in the process of selecting vendors for the proper 5G core networks,” AIS president Hui Weng Cheong said in a Reuters report, and Huawei is among the five bidders including Sweden’s Ericsson, Finland’s Nokia, China’s ZTE and South Korea’s Samsung.

“When we do anything, we send our request for proposals to all five, because we don’t want to pre-select,” he added.

The AIS president said the U.S. allegations around Huawei were “not proven” when asked about the intense lobbying from the U.S. aiming to ban Chinese telecom suppliers, and AIS would guard against possible security risks from all vendors.

According to media reports, AIS, which holds the most 5G spectrum licenses in the country, announced a partnership with Huawei last week to sell 5G smartphones made by the Chinese company.

5G construction has progressed rapidly and put the country at the forefront as ASEAN technology leader and one of the most advanced ones in the world since Thailand officially released its 5G spectrum in February this year.

In May, a 26-member National 5G Committee has been formed with Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as chairman to coordinate the 5G development and boost the digital economy in the country.

“We appreciate Huawei’s commitment to Thailand in the further cooperation of communications and telecommunications, especially the building of 5G network, which the Thai government has emphasized, and we are ready to develop our country’s capability to become the region’s digital technology leader,” said the Thailand Prime Minister during his meeting with Huawei representatives last month.

Huawei on Monday announced its business results for the first half of 2020. The company generated CNY454 billion in revenue during this period, a 13.1% increase year-on-year.

“Huawei reiterated its commitment to working with carriers and industry partners to maintain stable network operations, accelerate digital transformation, and support efforts to contain local outbreaks and reopen local economies,” the world’s leading ICT infrastructure provider said in a statement, “The complex external environment makes open collaboration and trust in global value chains more important than ever.”

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