Mitihoon – For decades, the telecom industry mantra has been “more is better”: more coverage, faster speeds, more data. But with Asia’s mobile data usage projected to double by 2030, concerns about network resilience and sustainability are rising alongside disruptions stemming from the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence.
Prathet Tankuranun, Chief Technology Officer of True Corporation, Thailand’s largest mobile network provider, understands this balancing act all too well. A veteran of the industry, Tankuranun previously led dtac’s technology group and the network development of Telenor Myanmar. Now, he’s tackling the mammoth task of modernizing True’s network following the biggest telecom merger in Southeast Asia.
Driving Digital Enablement for All
“Working in Myanmar profoundly inspired me. I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of telecommunications. It provides so many new opportunities to people, to small businesses, to rural areas. Mobile connectivity is life changing,” Mr. Tankuranun said.
Today, Mr. Tankuranun remains committed to bringing connectivity to all, but faces a very different challenge in Thailand. True and dtac are combining two mature networks, serving over 50 million people with tens of thousands of sites nationwide. Thai people are also among the world’s heaviest data users, at 30 GB per person per month (as of Q2 2024).
“It’s the largest network modernization in Thailand, and among the largest in Asia,” Mr. Tankuranun explained. “We identified about thousands of network sites that could be improved, working closely with the local sales teams who best know the communities they serve.”
At the company’s Q2 2024 business results announcement, True Corporation stated that 7, 100 sites have already been modernized, or 42% of the total target. But Mr. Tankuranun concedes that the project was his most challenging yet.
“Despite extensive testing and conducting real-life pilots to ensure a flawless rollout, scaling the modernization nationwide proved much more difficult in practice. Many teams on the ground had to be retrained to ensure they followed True’s exacting standards,” Mr. Tankuranun said. “The priority is always going to be the customer experience. You can’t rush these things.”
Artificial Intelligence and Carbon Emissions
Beyond network efficiency, Mr. Tankuranun is looking towards a future where AI plays a pivotal role in both user experience and sustainability.
“True Corporation has set ambitious goals of carbon neutrality by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050,” he says. “AI is key to reducing our carbon footprint. We’re already using it to analyze usage patterns and strategically power down equipment during low traffic periods, achieving up to 15% energy savings.”
In addition to AI, True is leveraging its network modernization to switch to more energy efficient equipment and continue increasing the number of solar-powered sites, which reached 10,490 sites by July 2024. Looking further ahead, Mr. Tankuranun predicts a future where AI can do much more to both improve the customer experience and how issues are resolved.
“With AI, we’ll be able to know to detect potential issues in the network before if affects customers. This is what’s called ‘self-healing’ or ‘self-optimizing’ networks. AI also greatly improves the customer service experience, as service agents will increasingly rely on AI co-pilots to assist customers more quickly and precisely,” said Mr. Tankuranun.
Transforming People for the AI Era
True Corporation’s commitment to AI extends beyond network optimization. The company plans to have 5,000 “digital citizens” by 2025, including 1,000 advanced-level experts in AI and data science. And it recently formed a Center of Technology Excellence to work with global partners possessing the most advanced AI capabilities.
“We prioritize secure AI adoption,” Tankuranun clarified. “We’ve begun a pilot where have access to AI co-pilots where we control the data, and all AI outputs are verified by humans before implementation.”
Mr. Tankuranun acknowledges that AI will disrupt the workforce, with some jobs becoming obsolete and others requiring new skillsets. However, he emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning.
“What you learn in school may not be relevant when you land a job,” he advised, “but with continuous learning, you’ll thrive. After all, AI still needs humans to build, train, and operate it… for now.”
Balancing cutting-edge technology with environmental responsibility is a constant theme for Tankuranun. As True Corporation embraces the power of AI and grapples with sustainability challenges, his leadership will be instrumental in ensuring a future where everyone stays connected while preserving the planet.
Perhaps that’s why, outside of work, Tankuranun wants to balance helping his children with homework and the time they spend outdoors, a refreshing reminder of the delicate balance between tech and nature.
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