Vivo, a smartphone company based in China, and Advanced Info Service (AIS), a regional wireless provider, have partnered to run 5G standalone (SA) network tests in Thailand, which marks Vivo’s first 5G SA commercial network testing outside of China.
AIS, a Thailand provider offering mobile, broadband internet and digital services, has begun the deployment of 5G SA spots across the country. It officially began 5G service last October, according to the Bangkok Post. In February of last year, AIS turned on a 5G network allowing smartphone customers to use the 10 gigabytes of 5G speed services per month for free as a trial.
“The collaboration with AIS will accelerate the commercial 5G SA network deployment in Thailand and bring enhanced high-speed 5G experiences to local mobile users,” according to a press release.
Along with KDDI in Japan and TPG in Australia, AIS has recently announced the use of the 700 MHz band for 5G to extend the coverage and provide more reliable 5G connectivity, Verdict reported.
Last Fall, AIS signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei to deploy a 5G core and services, according to Bangkok Times. The MoU included new experience-oriented services, such as enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low-latency communications and enhanced machine-type communications. Huawei hailed the carrier’s leadership in CIO Digital Magazine.
“Thailand was the first country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to deploy 5G commercially at large scale and has prioritized 5G, recognizing it as an important engine to support the ‘Thailand 4.0’ digital transformation initiative,” Huawei opined. “Last year, COVID-19 swept across the world with an unprecedented impact on people’s lives. In Thailand, newly launched 5G technology was used to combat this pandemic and will be even more instrumental this year to drive economic recovery.”
In addition to consumer 5G services, Thailand has been active in exploring opportunities for 5G industrial applications, Huawei added.
A vivo V21 5G smartphone, the latest in the V series, was used in field tests that took place in urban areas of Bangkok. The dual-mode 5G smartphone is embedded with proprietary 5G antenna technology, allowing it to be less battery-draining but more powerful and stable than single-mode 5G phones, according to vivo.
“vivo aims to empower consumers by providing access to 5G connectivity at every price point,” the company said. “To achieve this feat, vivo has invested heavily into R&D, culminating in cutting-edge patented findings such as 5G multi-sim and power-saving technology. Vivo is headquartered in China and is supported by a network of 10 R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an, Taipei, Tokyo and San Diego, CA.
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