AIS has upgraded its offshore telecommunications network under the “Sea First Coverage” strategy, becoming the first operator in Southeast Asia to deploy Sub-1 GHz Massive MIMO technology. A field trial conducted along the ferry route from Pak Nam Chumphon to Koh Tao demonstrated continuous 5G marine coverage extending up to 60 kilometers offshore—an increase from the previous 38-kilometer reach—readying infrastructure for year-end tourism demand.
Technical Integration of Low-Band Spectrum and Massive MIMO
Offshore wireless propagation faces significant physical constraints, notably the scarcity of mid-sea base stations and extended distances from the mainland. To overcome these challenges, AIS combined low-band frequencies below 1 GHz—specifically the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands known for wide-area propagation—with multi-antenna Massive MIMO systems.
The combined architecture coordinates multiple antenna arrays to enhance signal beam direction, throughput capacity, and device concurrency across water surfaces. This setup ensures steady connectivity across maritime channels, serving data-heavy passenger applications such as digital navigation, real-time communications, and high-definition video streaming on moving vessels.
Kitti Ngarmchatetanarom, Chief Technology Officer of AIS, stated that the operator develops its network under the WISE Framework, focusing on spectrum assets, technology innovation, and engineering expertise.
“Network quality is defined by enabling customers to connect with confidence wherever they travel,” said Kitti. “Under our ‘Innovate Beyond’ principle, this deployment ensures seamless connectivity beyond mainland borders, supporting both domestic and international travelers across coastlines, passenger vessels, and resort islands ahead of the peak travel season.”
Maritime Network Architecture for Southern Tourism Hubs
The Koh Tao trial represents an extension of the operator’s 5G Sea Coverage initiative initiated in 2023, aimed at eliminating maritime coverage gaps along key Gulf of Thailand shipping and transit lanes.
Chotiwat Ounpikul, Head of Regional Operations – Southern Region at AIS, highlighted that southern maritime zones present distinct structural challenges due to island dispersion and shifting passenger concentrations along ferry corridors.
“Planning offshore network infrastructure requires looking beyond standalone island base stations to establish reliable links across open waters,” noted Chotiwat. “By combining empirical maritime usage data with geographic profiling, we design coverage to match actual navigational paths, benefiting travelers, maritime operators, and local island economies.”
AIS currently holds 1,460 MHz of aggregate frequency bandwidth, serving 47.2 million mobile subscribers and 5.4 million fixed broadband customers nationwide as of September 2026. The maritime expansion supports national digital infrastructure goals aligned with Thailand’s wider tourism and digital economy strategies.
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