dtac story

How mobile operator can play role in safeguarding and promoting human rights in the digital age

After the conclusion of World War II, the global community came to realize the devastating effects of war and genocide. As a result, international laws protecting human rights were developed on the principle that all individuals possess inherent equality in rights and dignity. On December 10th, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which serves as the foundation for the global protection of human rights. Today, human rights continue to be a global concern, but as more and more individuals access the digital realm, new opportunities and challenges related to human rights have emerged. The digital transformation has brought about both positive and negative impacts on human rights, from the ability to freely express oneself online to the rise of cyberbullying and online harassment. dtacblog spoke with Rachaya Kulnapongse, dtac’s Head of Sustainability, about the mobile operator’s stance in protecting and promoting human rights, the human rights due diligence process, and emerging human rights risks that come with digital advancement. Connectivity is a Basic Right “Digital inclusion or digital access is always a significant focus in the field of telecommunication. We focus on three areas to promote this: ensuring access to internet-enabled…

A Look at dtac’s Network Operations Team on New Year’s Eve

The countdown to the new year is always a time for celebration, and this year is no different. As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to subside, many people are looking forward to gathering with friends and loved ones for year-end celebrations. In Thailand, the countdown parties have drawn millions of international visitors eager to experience the joyous ambiance and share in the festivities. And this year Bangkok has been ranked among the top 10 countdown destinations by CNN. To ensure that the celebrations run smoothly, hundreds of frontline employees and support functions have been hard at work. dtacblog spoke with Suttiphol Warangrit, dtac’s head of Network Operations Center (NOC), and his team to learn more about the mobile operator's preparations for Thailand's countdown events. Ensuring Reliable Services During Festive Season According to Mr. Suttiphol, New Year celebrations are always lively and full of energy. The holiday season is a time for people to come together with their families or friends to celebrate with parties or colorful events. In Bangkok, two of the most popular countdown celebrations will be the Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 at IconSiam and the Central World Bangkok Countdown 2023, which is known as the "Times Square of Asia."…

How the dtac Engineers Ensure Uninterrupted Service During Festive Times

As the festive season brings joy and happiness to people’s lives, dtac’s engineers are working hard to ensure that the fun continues without interruption. Despite the strategic and engineering challenges that come with hosting colorful events, dtac is committed to delivering a seamless experience for its customers. Recently, dtacblog joined the engineers on the job to see firsthand how they are making this possible. Behind the Scenes According to Panupong Peyatsaphan, dtac’s Head of Field Service Operation Central & East Unit, his team always plans for events throughout the year to ensure smooth service and excellent customer experiences. However, many events tend to be concentrated around the year-end period, which requires extra care in planning and implementation. And these preparations are crucial for maintaining customer confidence in dtac. During the planning stage, dtac’s Planning Team uses data from the Field Service Operation Unit’s lab or “NOC Room” (Network Operation Center) to make informed decisions. They consider two key factors when evaluating a particular event: network coverage and network utilization. Network Coverage: In considering this factor, the planners check that the event venue has a dtac base station. If not, they must find ways to enhance coverage at the venue that…

2022 in Review: A Journey Towards Growth 2.0

As 2022 draws to a close, the world is still adjusting to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions have eased and people are returning to their pre-pandemic lifestyles, but the pandemic has brought about significant changes in technology, shifts in human behavior, and lasting impacts on the economy and society. In response to the rapid advancement of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and the internet of things (IoT), dtac has embraced a new way of thinking and is ready to take on a new role in this changing ecosystem in order to navigate the emerging challenges and stay ahead of the curve. As we’re nearing the end of year, dtacblog looks back on key moments of 2022 in pictures. Beyond Connectivity In March, dtac announced its Fast Forward Digital ambition and launched a new version of its app. This version, which was designed to be a "super app," has a new interface and is available in four languages: Thai, English, Myanmar, and Cambodian. To make digital services accessible for all, the app is made available to everyone, not just dtac customers. At the end of the third quarter of 2022, dtac had 7.6 million digital users and aims…

How to Maximize Capabilities of Mobility Data: Case Studies of Samut Songkhram and Phatthalung Provinces

Data has massive value today, but what is also important is the tool to simplify and understand data. Aware of this fact, dtac has decided to partner with the Chulalongkorn University’s (CU) Faculty of Architecture and Boonmee Lab in developing Mobility Data Dashboard as a platform for interested groups to explore more about domestic tourists’ behaviors. dtacblog recently sat down with Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattapong Punnoi, a key man behind the Mobility Data Dashboard. While he is a full-time lecturer at the faculty’s Department of Urban & Regional Planning, he also heads the “Project to Study Thai Tourists’ Mobility and Concentration during COVID-19 Situation”. According to him, Mobility Data Dashboardprovides insight on tourism data at three levels: Cluster level: The dashboard shows secondary-city clusters to guide each secondary city about which neighboring provinces it should partner with and develop tour routes and tourism activities that best suit tourists’ behaviors. Generally, tourists visit several provinces in the same trip. Central government agencies thus should use the cluster-level information to boost the efficiency of tourism-campaign designs. Provincial level: This provides insights on provincial tourism trends, including the profiles of its inbound and outbound tourists. The profiles specify gender, age, and hometown of…

Meet the two finalist teams from the “Battle for Better” inter-school debate competitions

The “Battle for Better” #BraveAgainstCyberbullying debate tournament, which was the collaboration between dtac and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), has already concluded. Hailing from the private sector, dtac has supported the competition in the Month of Youth under the “BKK Rangers: Children for Better Urban Changes” theme. The last round of the debate pitched the Matthayom Prachanitwet School’s team against the Wat Pak Bor School’s team, where the former emerged as winners. dtacblog sat down with the two finalist teams to dive into the behind the scenes and how they got themselves prepared for the competition. From the Matthayom Prachanitwet School are Juthawat Bintasurasee, Piyapat Niyomsit, Ailada Khumtrakul, and their mentor and teacher Tanawit Saengnarin. The counterparts from the Wat Pak Bor School team are Sasiwan Suaipring, Kawin Changkham, Thanakorn Pimpho, and their teacher-mentor Darat Chukong. First Time Joining Debate Competition “All my team members are interested in public speaking, and we were quick to apply upon hearing about the debate competition. But the path to the contest was not rosy. More than 10 students in our school submitted their application for the competition. So, we all had to go through some internal selection process,” Juthawat from the Matthayom Prachanitwet…

“Always Do the Right Thing”: dtac’s Anti-Corruption Policy in Focus

Today's world is faced with challenges that are complex and difficult to solve, many of which are interconnected and undermining security, prosperity, and social resilience. Ranking among these challenges is corruption, which in the long run weakens social and economic wellbeing, democracy, and the rule of law. To raise awareness of corruption and enlist public support in the battle against corruption, the United Nations (UN) has designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day. Thailand’s corruption has worsened in the past years. According to a report by Transparency International (TI), in 2021, the country ranked 110th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) — falling six spots down the global rankings since 2020. The report also pointed out that cooperation between political bodies and the private sector is the key to combating corruption. dtacblog spoke to Stephen Helwig, Interim Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of dtac, to find out more about the mobile operator’s best practices in preventing corrupt practices and fostering an anti-corruption culture. Do the Right Thing and Be Respectful “At dtac, we always encourage our people to do the right thing and show mutual respect,” Mr. Helwig said. “As a result, we conduct our businesses and…

How Digital Skills Help a Formerly Incarcerated Mom Launch a Successful Business

“Take nothing, get nothing, but bear the brunt” is a common Thai saying. It refers to situations in which people receive no benefits from their involvement, but instead suffer all the negative consequences. This saying perfectly encapsulates what happened to Suwimon “Dear” Suk-udomchokechai. An Accidental Criminal A few years ago, Ms. Suwimon worked as a teacher at a small primary school. But when the accountant resigned, certain school executives requested her to take on accounting duties on top of her teaching load, and she agreed. She certified certain key documents as part of her new role. But due to her implicit trust in the school executives, as well as her fledgling accounting knowledge, Ms. Suwimon soon unwittingly became party to corrupt dealings. Irregularities in the school’s accounting papers began to surface in late 2016. A probe identified Ms. Suwimon as the person who certified the documents under investigation. She was charged with embezzlement and was convicted in February 2019. Her sentence could have been as long as 48 years, but being a first-time offender who confessed to her accidental crimes, she was sentenced 20 years – a daunting prospect nonetheless. To make matters worse, during her admission to the Central…

Citizen Developers Program: dtac’s key to a successful digital transformation and future-proof workforce

18 November 2022 - In the past five years, digital transformation has become a top agenda item at many organizations. The Covid-19 pandemic became a test on resilience and ability to transform in order to thrive in the digital battleground. The same is true for dtac, which has embarked on a full digital transformation journey since 2020. Raewat Tankittikorn, dtac’s head of Channel Excellence, said that dtac’s digital transformation efforts began with simplification and modernization, which required the organization to rethink its strategies, systems, and service-delivery methods. For customers, this means the in-store experience is continually improved with digitization. For example, today dtac shops are completely paperless, while the experiences on digital channels, such as dtac app and dtac One (app for retailers), are becoming more effective and seamless. Curbing Disruption Impacts “Over the past few years, the pandemic had forced temporary shop closures and reduced hours. Many dtac employees shifted to working from home,” Mr. Raewat said. “Thanks to our full-fledged digital transformation strategy, we were able to handle the situation well and successfully curbed impacts from disruptions, changing consumer behaviors, and natural disasters.” dtac has integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into its work process in the past two years…

Look into Frontliners’ Lives: How dtac Engineers Work Behind the Scenes during Flood Crisis

Floods have been raging in Thailand’s Central region for nearly two months now. According to the National Water Command, accumulated rainfall has been 21 per cent higher than average during the period because of three storms: Mulan, Ma-On and Noru, plus low-pressure ridges. As the Chao Phraya River overflows, run-offs spread through its western fields to Chainat, Sing Buri, Angthong and Ayutthaya alike. Kanokporn Thongprasert, a 56-year-old villager in Ayutthaya’s Paniad Klong Chang Community, told dtacblog that even though her community had been inundated every year, this time floods were more serious – even when compared with 2011 big floods. Now, floodwaters are about two metersdeep. In other words, the first floor of her house is completely swamped. Worse still, in previous years inundation used to subside within weeks. But this year, floods have persisted for about two months already.“Floods are quite common in Ayutthaya. But during the past two years, floods have become a real crisis because the floodwater level is higher and floods drag on longer,” Kanokporn lamented. In the face of severer flooding, Kanokporn has lost her income. She usually works at Klang Klong Sa Bua Temple, which has received fewer financial donations lately. Monks cannot go…

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