Abstract—The Thai government is determined to transform Thailand from a low-cost manufacturing intensive to technology and innovation intensive country. The government has announced the “Digital Economy Plan” which is expected to promote advancement in business sector, creating new and highly skilled job opportunities, and bridging the digital divide gap in Thailand via social, education and equal access to internet. However, the key to bridging digital divide is creating availability of spectrum to drive broadband infrastructure projects to boost socio-economic development. In order to ensure successful implementation of the Digital Economy Plan, the Thai government needs to play a crucial role in ensuring coordination between all stakeholders including private investors and the telecommunications regulator. Nevertheless, due to limited availability and conflicting interests between stakeholders on spectrum, the regulator and government bodies is certain to face range of obstacles in assignment of spectrum for mobile broadband. The objective of this paper this study aims to put forward the social and economic impact of mobile broadband, international best practices on broadband regulation, positive impact of mobile broadband on different social and economic aspects. A supportive regulatory framework is also recommended to push mobile broadband as a contributor to transforming Thailand into a digital economy.

Index Terms—socio-economic, impact, analysis, spectrum, digital economy, regulator, telecommunication

Cite: Settapong Malisuwan and Nattakit Suriyakrai, "Leveraging Mobile Broadband to Create a Positive Socio-Economic Impact and Transform Thailand into a Digital Economy" Journal of Advanced Management Science, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 94-101, March 2017. doi: 10.18178/joams.5.2.94-101