With ongoing wildfires, haze, and PM2.5 across Northern Thailand affecting public health, the economy, and tourism, and increasing risks to communications infrastructure, True Corporation (SET: TRUE) is accelerating efforts to strengthen mobile and fiber home broadband networks in the upper northern region, particularly in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.
True Corporation is reinforcing network resilience to ensure uninterrupted connectivity in all crisis scenarios by expanding fiber optic routes, deploying additional microwave systems for emergency connectivity, enhancing heat and PM2.5 management at base stations, and increasing backup power capacity. True Corporation reaffirms that both TrueMove H and dtac customers will continue to access digital communication services seamlessly under all circumstances.
According to the Office of Space Technology and Geoinformatics Development (Public Organization) or GISTDA, data from April 1–10, 2026, shows burned areas of 319,192 rai in Chiang Mai and 243,318 rai in Mae Hong Son, clearly reflecting the severity of this year’s wildfire crisis.
In such conditions, 5G and 4G networks play a critical role in daily life, information access, and emergency response. Wildfires, extreme heat, and physical damage not only affect public health but also pose risks to base stations, field equipment, fiber optic lines, and power systems. Without proactive preparation, these factors could disrupt services on a wide scale.
Mr. Khurrum Ashfaque, Chief Network Officer of True Corporation Public Company Limited, said, “Wildfires and PM2.5 highlight the need for networks to operate at a higher level of readiness during crises. True Corporation places strong emphasis on proactive monitoring, preparedness in high-risk areas, and disciplined network management to ensure customers remain connected when it matters most.”
Building on its track record as the No.1 mobile network for 10 consecutive years and broadband for 6 years by nPerf, True Corporation is strengthening engineering standards in wildfire-prone areas, focusing on network resilience, flexibility, and power redundancy to ensure continuous 5G and 4G service availability even during emergencies.
For base station equipment, True Corporation is transitioning to sealed enclosures and closed-loop cooling systems to minimize dust, smoke, and pollutants entering equipment, while maintaining optimal temperature control to reduce risks from heat and PM2.5 accumulation.
For fiber networks, route diversity has been enhanced, with materials selected for heat resistance, UV tolerance, and environmental durability to mitigate wildfire-related damage and strengthen long-term network resilience.
Proactive Measures to Strengthen Network Performance in Northern Thailand Include:
- 100% upgrade of primary fiber routes across upper and lower northern regions to reduce risks from ground-level exposure vulnerable to wildfire damage
- Microwave backup deployment – Point-to-point wireless microwave links between cell sites in high-risk areas such as Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai to prevent province-wide outages in case of fiber disruption
- Collaboration with EGAT – Upgrading backup fiber routes along Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) transmission poles to enhance redundancy and service stability
- Rail corridor fiber design (Rail Link) – Deploying fiber routes along railway lines in provinces such as Phrae, Nan, and Lampang to reduce wildfire exposure
- Enhanced preventive maintenance and thermal management – Increasing maintenance frequency to every six months, replacing filters, and improving cooling efficiency in base station cabinets
- Load sharing optimization – Adding cabinets and redistributing equipment in high-heat areas to ensure stable 24/7 operations
- Emergency battery backup installation – Expanding backup capacity at key sites to support 2–4 hours of operation during power outages
- Expanded field engineering teams – More technicians in wildfire- and PM2.5-prone areas
A critical factor in the northern crisis is smoke and PM2.5, which can lead to soot accumulation and corrosion in electronic equipment. This underscores the importance of proper enclosure design and air control systems in base stations operating in high-risk environments.
True Corporation continues to closely monitor wildfire and PM2.5 conditions across Northern Thailand, while continuously assessing network risks to support reliable communications and minimize impacts on communities and the regional economy.
