IoT pilot project underway with Thailand's state-run telecommunications company CAT

SK Telecom enters the Thai IoT market.

SK Telecom announced on the 5th that it has signed an 'Agreement on IoT Dedicated Network Construction and Technology Consulting' with Thailand's state-run telecommunications company CAT Telecom and will conduct IoT pilot projects in Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand starting in April.


CAT Telecom (hereinafter referred to as CAT) is a Thai state-owned telecommunications company that provides telephone, internet, mobile communication, and international call services, and is a leading company in Thailand's ICT industry, including IoT and e-commerce.

At the contract signing ceremony held at CAT headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand on the 3rd, key executives from both companies, including SK Telecom IoT Business Division Head Cha In-hyeok, CAT CEO Sanpachai Huvanandana, CAT Board of Directors Chairman Thawip Netniyom, and government officials including Thailand's Minister of Digital Economy and Society Pichet Durongkaveroj, attended and expressed their expectations for the two companies' IoT pilot project.


Through this contract, SK Telecom and CAT will build a LoRa-based IoT dedicated network throughout Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and Phuket, a popular resort destination. IoT services are scheduled to be provided starting in April.

A LoRa network will be installed in the downtown area around the Grand Palace in Bangkok to provide IoT location tracking services for tourists. The Thai government declared a period of official mourning from October of last year to October 2017 following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Therefore, this is expected to help prevent children and the elderly from going missing during the mourning period.

In Phuket, a LoRa network-based vehicle location tracking service will be available. IoT-specific terminals will be installed on tour buses, allowing tourists to check vehicle routes and locations in real time via smartphones. Phuket is the first region to participate in the Thai government's smart city project as part of its digital policy. Starting with the vehicle location service, the two companies plan to expand the service to include remote water and electricity metering and smart streetlights.

Since 2016, Thailand has been actively pursuing "Thailand 4.0," a key national development strategy aimed at boosting industrial competitiveness through digital economic revitalization and startup development. Accordingly, SK Telecom anticipates expanded opportunities for cooperation in various ICT sectors within Thailand.

The two companies also plan to establish industry-academic collaborations with prestigious Thai universities Chulalongkorn University (located in Bangkok) and Burapha University (located in Pattaya) to build LoRa-based IoT testbeds on campus and develop various IoT services.

Meanwhile, SK Telecom and CAT announced the launch of Tree Pay, a joint venture between NHN-KCP (NHN Korea Cyber Payment), in Thailand.

Tripay plans to combine the capabilities of each company to target Thailand's rapidly growing e-commerce market with electronic payment services. To this end, SK Telecom and NHN-KCP will build a platform utilizing core technologies related to online/offline/mobile payments, while CAT will play a role in discovering payment business opportunities targeting government agencies.

TreePay plans to differentiate its services by introducing various payment solutions that have already been proven in the Korean market, rather than remaining a simple payment gateway (PG) company.