The Thai mobile market is a fast paced growing market. Coming into 2008, there were over 53 million mobile subscribers in the country. This was up from less than four million in 2001. With the arrival at around that time of two additional players in the mobile market – TA-Orange (later True Move) and Hutchison CAT to challenge the powerful duopoly of AIS and DTAC, competition began heating up. There was also the launch of Thai Mobile, the TOT/CAT mobile joint venture. The market is now in need of some rationalisation; regulatory changes will continue to be a big factor in shaping the future market.
Thai telecoms regulator has said to issue 3G licences by 2009 and the providers will be AIS, DTAC and TAC.
AIS has earned the highest ever quaterly profits of USD187 million in Q2’08.
Integrated CDMA network will now be working under one brand, Hutch.

Notable highlights of the 3Q08 Thailand Mobile Forecast include:

• It is forecasted that the number of total subscribers in Thailand will increase from 62.9 million in 2008 to 69.7 million in 2010. The wireless penetration level will reach 90.5% in 2010.
• The largest operator, AIS, will be losing its market share to TAC and TRUE Move over the forecast period of 2008 – 2010. The market share of AIS will decrease from our projected 44.8% in 2008 to a forecasted 43.4% in 2010.
• In 2010, it is being forecasted that AIS will have the highest ARPU at US$ 8.53 per month in the country.
• It is forecasted that the number of total subscribers in Thailand will increase from 62.9 million in 2008 to 69.7 million in 2010. The wireless penetration level will reach 90.5% in 2010.