[May 09, 2013] Intel, NBTC eye rural growth [Bangkok Post, Thailand] Tweet (Bangkok Post (Thailand) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 10--Intel Corporation, the world's largest processor maker, has joined hands with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in a campaign to boost computer use in rural areas. Intel forecasts full commercial third-generation (3G) wireless service will boost notebook sales by 1 million of the devices over the next three years. "Only 6 million of the 20 million Thai households own computers," said Accharas Ouysinprasert, country manager at Intel Microelectronics (Thailand). In some developed countries, computer penetration is 90% of households. A "Be Amazing" roadshow will travel to 27 provinces to educate the public, particularly first-time users and college students, on the benefits of computers. Computer makers participating in the campaign will be Asus, Acer, Samsung, Lenovo and Toshiba along with the broadband providers TOT and Advanced Info Service. Affordable prices will be featured during the roadshow including 7,900-baht tablets. Mr Accharas expects the campaign will reach 550,000 households this year. The launch of 3G and 4G service is expected to boost computer use to 80% of total households. Gen Sukit Khamasundara, an NBTC member, said the agency is considering cutting the universal service obligation (USO) fee to 2-3% from 3.75% in order to reduce the burden on licensees. The USO fee is collected from telecom operators to provide services in rural areas where telecom investment is not commercially justifiable. Under the USO master plan from 2012-16, the NBTC will spend 20 billion baht to install fibre-optic networks in rural areas to allow as many as 80% of Thais to access broadband, up from 32% now. The spending will cover implementation of the of USO net and community computer centres for 7,000 tambons, up from 1,000 at present. Mr Accharas said in the second half of this year, Intel will offer its chips in its own Android tablets priced at 6,000 baht apiece. Moreover, Windows 8 tablets equipped with Intel chips will lower their price to US$399 from $699. Intel hopes the campaign will help increase its market share for tablet chips. "We hope to have 300,000 Intel-based tablet sales in Thailand this year and 1 million in 2014," said Mr Accharas. He said the company's touch-based notebook with 11.6-inch display will be reduced to $399 from $500. ___ (c)2013 the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) Visit the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) at www.bangkokpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]