THAILAND COUNTRY REPORT

Regional Multi-stakeholder Discussion Forum on Rural ICT Development

Bangkok, Thailand, 4 July 2011

Rural ICT Policy Advocacy, Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building Regional Project

Government’s Institutional Structure

Status on ICT development in Thailand

National ICT Policy

Initiative Projects

The way forward

OUTLINE

Thailand ICT Overview (1): Internet User /Population

Source-: Global Information Technology Report 2009 - 2010

Netherland S.Korea USA Singapore Japan Malaysia Thailand

Thailand Government structure on ICT

Policy maker

MICT

Ministry of Information and Communication Technology

Regulator

NBTC

National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission

Government operator

TOT Public Company Limited, CAT Telecom Public Company Limited

Private operator

AIS, DTAC ,TRUE

State Institutional Structure

NBTC

Operators

COEs

State Institutional Structure

State Institutional Structure

2004-20061. One Temple One Centre

(OTEC) =11 Centres (Used Computer)

2. I-Community) & (Community CIO) = 5 Centres

3. Community e Center = 1 Centre (Pilot)

Since 2007 -Currently2007= 20 Centres2008 = 140 Centres2009 = 117 Centres2010 = 600 Centres2011 = 1,000 CentresTotal = 1,879 Centres2011-…..National Rural Broadband Policy

Evolution of Thai Rural ICT Initiatives & Penetration

2007=20,2008 = 40,2009 =117,2010=600, 2010=1,000 – 1,879 Centres Currently -2011

ThaiTelecentre : ICT Rural Penetration since 2007?

State Institutional Structure

Thai Regulatory Framework :

Relevant Stakeholders :

MICT : Policy,

NBTC : Regulators,

Operators : both domestic & International

Consumers/People : Consumer Right

Have to set holistic & concrete Regulations to all stakeholders especially the underserved groups e.g.

3-5% of USO Fund for all the Underserved people (with clear framework and indicators) e.g. in the remote area, NBTC will support the accessible infrastructure and more accessible point e.g.Thaitelecentres.

Funding Mechanism : USO Fund

1. Holistic & Collaborative Funding Mechanism among all Stakeholders : Policy, Regulators, Operators, and Users/Consumers/Civic Groups

2. Concrete funding mechanism at all levels under good governance & transparent & accountable mechanism e.g. 3-5% of the USO Fund have to be given for community /rural empowerment / public benefit, Education etc.

ICT Rural Initiatives (1)

1. USO Fund with its concrete funding mechanism to holistic support all kinds of ICT empowering activities for Rural empowerment/underserved groups,

2. Support and facilitate all kinds of New ICT / New/ Supportive /Appropriate Technologies for Rural empowerment,

3. Support all kinds of ICT initiatives / Innovation at / from the Rural /Community / Grass-root based e.g. the community creative economy, the community E-Shop, etc.

4. Support more Gateways and Channels for all levels of Network links as well as all kind of collaborations / joint activities e.g. Rural broadband,

5. Support “the Rural Community/People ICT Institute” : By People-Of People-For People” : The Community ICT ASEAN Academy Institute (IAAI) for both the community and the ASEAN region

ICT Rural Initiatives (2)

1. Support all demands & problems of the rural e.g. the Alternative & Livelong learning, certified skilled training (certified knowledge workers, skilled trainer, etc)

2. Support more COE at the community level e.g.

2.1) COE of E -Community Creative Economy (aimed to support both local wisdom as well as meaningful earning at the community level) (Thailand would volunteer to lead) e.g. Creative Local Tourism, artisan, etc.

2.2) COE of E- MIL (Media & Information Literacy) aimed for community better living as well as protection e.g. human trafficking, human security, Cyber security, etc.

2.3) COE of E-Community Self Sufficiency, COE of E-Agriculture, COE of E-Learning (ODL)

Key Lessons from Project/Workshop :

1. Lesson#1 Learn about the very clear and concrete Policy,

Mechanism of USO Fund Policy & Mechanism from other countries e.g. Korea, India, Mongolia, and others…

2. Lesson#2 Learn about the holistic & futuristic policy &mechanism of ICT

for Development (ICT4D) from some countries e.g. Korea, India , China and others….

3. Lesson#3

Learn about how progress of other countries in ICT4D especially the USO Fund Policy &Mechanism; learn about the progress of Rural Broadband in some countries as well as other ICT Rural Applications

Follow-up :

1. USO Fund Policy & Mechanism Aimed for the holistic, collaborate, creative, accessible,

transparent and most benefit to all the underserved people;

2. Create more Gateways /Channels for the Rural Community / Bottom-up

• to voice more about their rights, benefits as well as promote all kinds of E-Community-based creative economy /Self sufficiency / Appropriate & Demanded technologies for Rural better lives;

3. Propose Thailand to lead more COEs aimed to serve others e.g. COEs in E-Community Creative Economy, Community E-Learning, E-ASEAN Learning, E-Agriculture, etc.