The total telecom and pay-TV services revenue in Thailand is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% from $10.9 billion in 2023 to $12.8 billion in 2028, primarily driven by the mobile data and fixed broadband segments, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s Thailand Telecom Operators Country Intelligence Report reveals that the  mobile voice service revenues will decline during the forecast period, in line with the steady decline in mobile voice service ARPU, with operators offering unlimited free voice minutes as a part of their bundled plans.

Mobile data service revenues, on the other hand, will increase at a CAGR of 4.7% over the forecast period, driven by the continued rise in smartphone adoption, growing mobile internet subscriptions, and increasing consumption of mobile data services, on the back of increasing adoption of relatively high ARPU-yielding 5G services.

Sarwat Zeeshan, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, says: “4G services accounted for a majority share of the overall mobile subscriptions in 2023 in Thailand. 5G subscriptions, however, will increase at a rapid pace and surpass 4G’s share of total mobile subscriptions in 2026, driven by the rising demand and growing availability of 5G services and 5G network expansion efforts by operators across the country.”

In the fixed communication services segment, fixed broadband service revenue will grow at a CAGR of 5.5% over 2023-2028 period, supported by the steady growth in fiber-to-the-home/business (FTTH/B) broadband subscriptions, on the back of the rising demand for higher speed broadband connectivity and operators’ focus on expanding fiber network coverage across the country and improving FTTH networks in urban areas. Fixed voice services, on the other hand, will continue to decline given the steady decline in circuit-switched subscriptions.

Zeeshan adds: “Growing demand for high-speed broadband connectivity, government’s focus on fiber-optic network expansion in the country, and the gradual phasing out of DSL services in the country will support the growth in fiber broadband subscriptions over the forecast period.”

Pay-TV services revenue in the country will increase at a CAGR of 5.6%, over the forecast period, supported by the strong growth in IPTV subscriptions and steady rise in DTH and cable TV subscriptions.

Zeeshan concludes: “AIS topped the mobile service segment, by subscriptions in 2023, thanks to its strong focus on mobile network expansions and modernization. The operator announced plans to invest $800 million-$1.3 billion yearly by 2025 on mobile network expansions and extending 5G service coverage to 85% of the country. While NT will remain the leader, by subscription share in the fixed voice services segment, TrueOnline leads the fixed broadband market, supported by its strong presence in the FTTH segment.”