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50,000 Thai villages to get Internet by end of 2019

According to a recent report, perhaps the most vital stride towards advancing Industry 4.0 is developing a digital infrastructure. This is the opinion of representatives from both the public and private sectors.

So, it is promising to note that Thailand is all set to become a full-fledged broadband nation by the end of 2019 by providing Internet access to an additional 50,000 villages this year, noted the Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

The Minister, joined by representatives from the private sector, was speaking at the ASEAN Digital Infrastructure seminar organised by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council-Thailand (ASEAN BAC-Thailand) in cooperation with the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB).

The ASEAN BAC is a private-sector organisation which aims to give guidance and advice to the government sector to boost ASEAN cooperation.

The chairman of the ASEAN BAC noted that one of the biggest hurdles in adapting to digital disruptions in the ASEAN region is the development of digital infrastructure. For example, there is limited broadband access in rural areas, especially in countries with a vast population such as Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, where Internet connectivity remains relatively poor.

The leader stressed the importance of having an adequate digital infrastructure so that business opportunities via e-commerce, international trade and e-payments can be capitalised on throughout the region.

The JSCCIB chairman concurred by noting that the governments of ASEAN countries should invest in core digital infrastructure. This will connect people throughout the region and lead to new business opportunities.

The digital economy ministers of ASEAN have agreed to cooperate on improving the digital infrastructure in the region, it was noted and the concern over the lack of Internet connectivity in Thailand was addressed by the Minister when he laid out the Thai government’s plans to address the challenge.

He noted that in 2017, the Thai government identified up to 75,000 villages in the country without Internet access. Through the Village Broadband Internet (Net Pracharat) Project, the government has since then completed the installation of fibre cable networks for up to 25,000 villages.

The aim is to become a full-fledged broadband nation by the end of 2019 by completing the Internet installation for the remaining 50,000 villages.

Another important agenda is to increase the level of information sharing between ASEAN government agencies in order to enhance cooperation and to improve the ability to address problems at a regional level. This will, in turn, increase the ease of doing business for companies throughout the region.

However, it was also noted that progress on this front has to begin on the domestic side, with each ASEAN member digitising the way their government agencies operate.

Thailand has been pushing its agencies to use one-stop services, Big Data analytics as well as the development of digital IDs.

The president of the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA), recently announced that government agencies nationwide are transforming themselves for digital governance.

For example, the government expects to provide digital one-stop services from 300 government agencies within the next five years.

The final crucial issue discussed was the need to upskill and reskill the workforce within the ASEAN region to prepare for Industry 4.0.

The Chairman of the ASEAN BAC noted that it is absolutely crucial that the nation increases the skills and capabilities of the workforce to cope with digital disruptions in the region.

A management consulting firm has also expressed concerns over the need to reskill. A Senior Partner at the firm noted that reskilling will be needed for the existing workers, and has identified up to 7 million employees in Thailand who will need to be reskilled in order for companies to digitally transform.

The Minister said ASEAN ministers are in agreement on this issue. Domestic policies to train the workforce are already in place, while a regional guideline on training the digital skills of the workforce is underway, he said.

As for Thailand, the DGA is developing a digital-skills training course for all government officers. The agency expects to upgrade 3 million government officers with digital skills in their workforce areas within the next five years.

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