True Corporation (SET: TRUE) is driving the expansion of digital infrastructure to reduce connectivity gaps in remote areas, bringing reliable communication access to communities across the nation. The company has successfully installed and activated mobile network services in Ban Laosu Nok, a remote mountain village that had previously been beyond the reach of mobile coverage. This milestone represents a meaningful step toward narrowing the digital divide and improving quality of life for Akha and Mien ethnic communities living in Thailand’s remote and underserved regions.
Ban Laosu Nok is a small community of around 20 households, with approximately 60 residents including children, adults, and the elderly. Surrounded by mountainous terrain and forest, access to the village requires traveling along steep and winding mountain roads. While simplicity and tranquility define daily life here, remoteness has long meant severe limitations in communication, persisting for more than 31 years since the village was first established.
In the past, making a single phone call was never easy. Villagers often had to walk uphill to higher ground or travel to distant neighboring villages just to get a mobile signal, often for only a few minutes of conversation. Contacting hospitals, government agencies, or even speaking with family members working far away depended largely on timing and luck. For this community, the absence of mobile signal was not merely an inconvenience. It posed serious risks during illness and emergencies, and resulted in missed opportunities in education and livelihoods.
The Day True’s Signal Arrived, Life Began to Change
When True Corporation’s team installed the mobile base station and activated network services for the first time, the most immediate change was not high-speed internet, but the ability to make and receive calls instantly from home. Phones rang without villagers having to leave the village. Voices were clear. Communication that once required patience and effort became immediate and reliable.
The network deployment was led by Mr. Thongchai Kwanphut, Head of Network Rollout and Field Operation, together with the field operations team. To ensure confidence in real-world connectivity, the team conducted live testing, including video calls between villagers and True Corporation executives: Mr. Sigve Brekke, Group Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Khurrum Ashfaque, Chief Network Officer; and Mr. Manat Manavutiveth, Chief Customer Experience and Retail Officer. The demonstration confirmed that Ban Laosu Nok is now connected to the world beyond the mountains.
Mobile Signal as Tangible Safety and Quality of Life
With mobile communication no longer an obstacle, emergency reporting, hospital contact, and requests for assistance can now be made significantly faster. Internet access that comes with mobile connectivity allows villagers to stay informed, access news, and remain connected to the outside world, no longer isolated from society as before.
From Forest to Coffee to Community Income
Most residents of Ban Laosu Nok are farmers, primarily cultivating coffee while caring for and restoring the surrounding forest to preserve natural resources and build sustainable livelihoods. With mobile connectivity now available, agricultural activities are no longer confined to physical farmland alone. Farmers can directly contact buyers, monitor market prices, communicate with customers, and even trade their products independently through mobile phones.
Beyond market access, internet connectivity has also opened the door to knowledge. Villagers can search for information, learn new techniques, and continuously improve the quality of their coffee cultivation.
The community has also come together to establish the Ban Laosu Nok Coffee Community Enterprise Group, aiming to improve coffee quality, add value, and return income to the village. Mobile connectivity is therefore not merely a communication tool, but a critical enabler of livelihoods, market access, and long-term economic opportunity.
Children’s Opportunities and a Clearer Future
For children in Ban Laosu Nok, mobile connectivity opens a new door to learning. From education once confined to small classrooms in nearby village schools, they can now access online learning resources, watch instructional videos, submit homework, and explore knowledge from beyond their community. Many children have begun speaking seriously about their dreams, envisioning broader life paths and future possibilities.
True’s Commitment to Bridging the Digital Divide
Mr. Khurrum Ashfaque, Chief Network Officer of True Corporation Plc., said, “True places strong emphasis on reducing the digital divide and creating equal access for everyone. We are committed to expanding digital infrastructure into rural, remote, and underserved areas across the country. For Ban Laosu Nok, we deployed the 900 MHz low-band spectrum, which offers wide coverage and is well suited to mountainous and valley terrain. This enables communities that previously lacked access to connect to communications and the internet. We will continue developing network coverage in both urban and rural areas to ensure that everyone can access the digital world equally.”
Connectivity and Economic Growth
Research by the World Bank and multiple global studies indicate a strong correlation between broadband or high-speed internet access and economic growth. Findings show that every 10 percent increase in internet penetration can contribute approximately 0.25 to 1.4 percent growth in GDP across many countries worldwide.
True Corporation’s network expansion into rural and remote communities such as Ban Laosu Nok is therefore not merely about improving connectivity, but a long-term investment in closing the digital divide and creating sustainable economic opportunity. The approach aligns with the principle of “leaving no one behind” and supports inclusive national development by ensuring digital services are accessible and affordable for all.
Voices from the Community as Opportunity Arrives
Mr. Somchai Phongthanwalai, a resident of Ban Laosu Nok, said, “Today, we are very happy that Ban Laosu Nok finally has mobile signal. In the past, life was very difficult. In emergencies, we could not call a doctor and had to walk up the mountain or travel to other villages. Now we can make calls directly from home. It is much more convenient. With mobile phones and internet, we can read news, learn about the outside world, and gain knowledge about farming. Making a living has become easier. We can call traders, check prices, negotiate, and even sell products ourselves through mobile phones. Mobile phones are not just for communication. They truly improve our lives, our livelihoods, and help us see a better future.”
The Beginning of Broader Opportunities
For Ban Laosu Nok, mobile connectivity is not simply technology. It marks the beginning of better quality of life, greater safety, and new opportunities in education and livelihoods. Seamless communication supports learning, work, healthcare, and daily life with greater confidence and hope.
And on the day phones begin ringing without the need to search for signal, the villagers of Ban Laosu Nok know that this small connection is opening the door to a much wider world.
