AIS Expands 5G Coverage Across Thai Seas for Peak Tourism Season

According to a report by Khaosod Online, AIS has announced a significant upgrade to its 5G network infrastructure across Thailand's coastal and island regions. By implementing Sub-1 GHz Massive MIMO technology—a first for Southeast Asia—the provider has extended its 'Sea First Coverage' capabilities. Testing conducted on the ferry route from Pak Nam Chumphon to Koh Tao demonstrated that the 5G signal now reaches up to 60 kilometers offshore, a notable increase from the previous 38-kilometer range. This initiative is designed to support the surge in connectivity demands from tourists, local business operators, and maritime communities during the year-end peak travel season. The project builds upon the company's ongoing efforts to enhance network performance in popular maritime tourism areas, including coastal zones, islands, and major shipping lanes, which began in 2023. For travelers and residents, this expansion promises more reliable mobile data access while island hopping or traveling by ferry. While the technical testing on the Chumphon-Koh Tao route has shown successful results, the extent of the coverage improvements in other specific maritime regions remains to be confirmed as the network continues its rollout. AIS maintains that this upgrade is part of its broader strategy to lead in network quality across the country.