(Bangkok Post via NewsEdge) Thailand's overall internet penetration rate is expected to grow by 15% with a market worth more than 10 billion baht in 2008.

High-speed broadband internet alone is likely to grow by 30% to 1.3 million in a market worth 5 billion baht next year, according to Morakot Kulthamyothin, the president of the Thailand internet Service Provider Association.

Morakot, who is also the vice-president of internet Thailand (I-Net), said competition among the local broadband segment is likely to heat up next year, as the three fixed-line telephone providers, TOT, Trueand TT&T with a combined seven million fixed numbers, prepare to aggressively promote the market.

The penetration of broadband would grow substantially, with five to 10 million users by 2009.

However, she said, dial-up internet demand would continue declining due to more affordable broadband services.

Morakot said ISPs needed to seek innovative services targeting corporate customers.

The number of broadband users in Thailand is expected to reach one million by the end of this year, compared with 600,000 at the end of last year. True Corp dominates the market with an estimated 600,000 broadband customers.

© 2007 Bangkok Post

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