19 June 2025
Thailand’s state-owned telecommunications company, National Telecom (NT), is reportedly engaging in discussions with at least four potential partners — including major local rivals Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Corp. — to form strategic alliances aimed at revitalizing its declining telecom services.
These talks involve collaborations around NT’s mobile and fixed broadband segments. Proposed partnership models include infrastructure sharing, joint marketing initiatives, and customer base expansion, primarily based on profit-sharing arrangements. Such collaborations aim to reduce operational costs and boost revenue in a highly competitive market.
Two unnamed foreign IT equipment vendors are also exploring partnerships with NT, focusing on enhancing its fixed broadband operations through joint marketing and broadband management solutions. Additionally, partners are proposing to manage NT’s infrastructure assets, including cable systems, signal towers, and broadband equipment, to improve efficiency and operational resilience.
NT President Col Sanphachai Huvanandana stated that a dedicated working group has been established to evaluate proposals from all four potential partners. An initial decision is expected by the end of this year, after which the recommendations will be forwarded to NT’s board for approval.
This initiative comes as NT struggles with financial losses, reflecting the intense competition and high operational expenses in Thailand’s telecom sector. The company reported a THB4 billion loss in its mobile division for 2023, and its fixed broadband unit is forecasted to incur a loss of THB900 million in 2024, underscoring the urgency of strategic partnerships to turn around its fortunes.
