Thailand's dtac selects Ericsson managed services to increase network efficiency

Ericsson and Thai telecom operator dtac sign a network operations deal to increase efficiency and capabilities in light of ever increasing data traffic growth.

Ericsson and dtac signed a deal to implement an advanced, customer centric network operations model in Thailand starting from January 2020. Ericsson will be managing dtac’s network operations across the country with the Ericsson Operations Engine, while dtac retains the network’s strategic planning and the ownership of its assets.

The Ericsson Operations Engine, a data-driven approach powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), will enable dtac to ensure next-generation connectivity and allow its customers to benefit from secure and reliable network performance as well as a constantly-improving user experience.

This agreement involves the transfer of around 400 experienced professionals to Ericsson, who will continue to perform their current duties to ensure a seamless transition.

Alexandra Reich, CEO of Total Access Communication PLC, or dtac, said: “dtac has made significant network improvements in 2019. By partnering with Ericsson, we will be able to deepen our focus on customer needs and behaviors while we remain committed to developing a robust and fit-for-future network. We have been partnering with Ericsson for nearly 10 years and we are confident that this brings our network modernization to the next level as we prepare for 5G.”

With increasing data traffic growth, automated network technology upgrades will boost dtac’s competitivity via greater efficiency and network capabilities. As a global ICT leader investing approximately 18.5% of annual revenues in research and development over a variety of areas including 5G, AI and IoT. Ericsson’s solutions provides access to constant technology upgrades and improvements.

Nadine Allen, Head of Ericsson Thailand, said: “We are truly delighted to extend our partnership with dtac and to accompany them on their network automation journey. We will leverage our global experience and use the latest tools and technologies in AI, automation and machine learning to leverage data-driven insights, enabling us to deliver enhanced performance focused on end-user experience.”

In Thailand, dtac and Ericsson have been working together since 2009 on 2G, 3G, 4G as well as the recent live 5G trials. With a test bed at dtac’s Never Stop Café, both companies showcased 5G use cases such as unmanned drones in smart cities, augmented reality (AR) technology and remotely-operated farming vehicles.

The Ericsson Operations Engine is an end-to-end managed services operating model that creates sustainable differentiation as it evolves operations from being network-centric to user experience-centric. It fundamentally changes our way of operating networks from reactive to proactive, leveraging data, automation and artificial intelligence.