Communications

World's heaviest communications satellite run privately by Thailand
  • Telephones - main lines in use:
  • 5.6 million (2000)
  • Telephones - mobile cellular:
  • 3.1 million (2002)
  • Telephone system:
  • general assessment: service to general public adequate, but investment in technological upgrades reduced by recession; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network
  • domestic: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic satellite system being developed
  • international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
  • Radio broadcast stations:
  • AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)
  • Television broadcast stations:
  • 5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters) (1997)
  • Internet country code:
  • .th
  • Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
  • 15 (2000)
  • Internet users:
  • 1.2 million (2001)
  • Transportation Thailand Top of Page
  • Railways:
  • total: 4,071 km
  • narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
  • Highways:
  • total: 64,600 km
  • paved: 62,985 km
  • unpaved: 1,615 km (1999 est.)
  • Waterways:
  • 4,000 km
  • note: 3,701 km are navigable throughout the year by boats with drafts up to 0.9 meters; numerous minor waterways serve shallow-draft native craft
  • Pipelines:
  • gas 3,066 km; refined products 265 km (2003)
  • Ports and harbors:
  • Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla
  • Merchant marine:
  • total: 317 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,744,103 GRT/2,657,666 DWT
  • note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 1, Greece 1, Indonesia 1, Japan 1, Norway 24, Panama 1, Singapore 1 (2002 est.)
  • ships by type: bulk 33, cargo 136, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 17, liquefied gas 21, multi-functional large-load carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 74, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 1
  • Airports:
  • 111 (2002)
  • Airports - with paved runways:
  • total: 62
  • over 3,047 m: 7
  • 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
  • 914 to 1,523 m: 17
  • under 914 m: 5 (2002)
  • 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
  • Airports - with unpaved runways:
  • total: 49
  • 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  • 914 to 1,523 m: 17
  • under 914 m: 31 (2002)
  • Heliports:
  • 2 (2002)

Cat Telecom Public Company Limited - Thailand's Leading Communications Company
Over the years, CAT Telecom has grown to be a player with a strong regional heritage. With one of the most extensive and advanced telecommunications infrastructure, we have constantly embraced the latest technological advances to serve our customers' needs and have successfully provided all kinds of telecommunication services locally and globally.

World's heaviest communications satellite successfully launched by Thailand has set a new record
A 6.5-tonne communications satellite was lifted into orbit by Ariane 5 rocket owned by the Paris-based Arianespace company on August 11 at Kourou base in French Guiana. This communication satellite run privately by Thailand has set a new record of weight among all the communication satellite launched so far.

UIH alliances with Juniper to increase MPLS competitiveness; as the leader of MPLS service provider in Thailand
United Information Highway Company Limited (UIH), consistently develops and enhances services through alliances with the world-class global networking organizations. Its latest alliance is with Juniper Network, a collaboration designed to reinforce Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology in the Thai market. This new business relationship will enable us to achieve increased productivity with more reliable communications as Thailand’s leader of MPLS network services provider.

With both companies’ network reach and combined years of knowledge and expertise in networking and system integration, businesses in Thailand will be able to benefit from increased competitiveness through enhanced communication efficiency.
United Information Highway Company Limited (UIH), a member of Benchachinda group, provides high-speed data communication services via leased optical fiber networks nationwide. Smart and effective UIH Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology in Thailand can serve higher bandwidths, a variety of applications. It also enables the connection between headquarters and branches or connections among branches in highly secured communication environment. The broadband network development for 80 office buildings throughout Bangkok is capable of supporting business customers’ demand up to 10 Gbps, without incurring equipment installation cost. MPLS can enhance and improve network performance and ensure scalability to address future demands for additional capacity, resulting in vastly improved business operations.

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