In early August, Advanced Info Service (AIS) announced a partnership with cloud service provider Oracle, aiming to deploy “AIS Cloud” by the end of March 2025.

The carrier is pursuing a diversification strategy after losing its top position in the Thai wireless market to rival True. According to senior analyst Pisut Ngamvijitvong, the telecom industry is saturated.

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AIS used to be Thailand's largest mobile network operator before True and DTAC merged. Photo: Nikkei

Under the agreement, Oracle and AIS will provide more than 100 cloud services to businesses. The partners will invest 8 billion baht ($233 million) by 2030 to develop services and other activities.

In a statement, AIS CEO Somchai Lertsutiwong said cloud will play an important role in supporting IT infrastructure modernization and innovation for organizations in Thailand.

Additionally, AIS is also jumping into the renewable energy space, announcing plans to bring solar and telecommunications infrastructure to remote communities.

The pilot program has been conducted in Tak province in the northwest. The operator hopes to expand the initiative to 30 locations nationwide within five years.

AIS was founded in 1986 by Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Thailand (2001 – 2006). Mr. Thaksin participated in the company's management until 2006. For more than two decades, it was the country's largest wireless carrier by number of wireless subscribers but is now second.

AIS's consolidated revenue rose 2% in 2023 to 188.8 billion baht. Net profit rose for the first time in four years to 29 billion baht.

Thailand does not have many “new players” in the mobile market. AIS, True and DTAC are the three dominant names. In March 2023, True and DTAC merged, becoming a bigger competitor to AIS.

In November 2023, after acquiring Triple T Broadband, AIS rose to the top of the broadband market with 4.7 million subscribers.

(According to Nikkei)