Khon Kaen University joins Office of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, CMU and PSU to set up a 5G Testing Center for developing Thai technologies
June 20, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. – Khon Kaen University by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul MD, President of KKU signed an MOU with representatives of Office of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Chiangmai University and Prince of Songkhla University to set up a 5G Testing Center that will provide services in all regions in the country. The signing ceremony took place at the Office of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Bangkok.
The MOU for academic collaboration and setting up of the 5G Testing Center aims for parallel development in the country and for connecting information and technologies in order to reduce the gaps in accessibility to modern technologies.
Mr. Thakorn Tanthasit, General Secretary of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission said that NBTC has an objective to develop Thailand with the 5G system which covers infrastructures that accommodate remote medical and public health systems, analysis and storage of information, smart mass transportation, modern farming, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to set up this testing center before real use. The collaboration is made with institutions all over the country. The system of Internet of things is expected to upgrade the living of Thai people in the future.
“5G technologies will speed up dissemination of technologies and reduce social gaps. It will raise incomes for all villages, provinces, and regions in Thailand with equity. The cooperation and the readiness for social changes will lead to evident outcomes that benefit the country as a whole,” said NBTC General Secretary.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul MD, Acting President of KKU said that the MOU means a good chance for KKU, for it responds to the policy on KKU Transformation based on basic technologies. Khon Kaen University is aiming towards Smart Farming, and the results will be extended to medicine and other fields in all dimensions. The knowledge and expertise of all universities will be based on. The test center and development will enable every matter in the university and a holistic dimension of operations.
“Khon Kaen University is ready with our many research centers in medicine or agriculture. If 5G technologies are adopted in research projects, such as taking pictures of a patient’s retina and put them in a digital file, the images can be sent and analyzed. This can reduce cost of traveling to the hospital,” said Acting President.
Mr. Somsak Jangtrakoon, Khon Kaen Governor explained that Khon Kaen is one of the top advanced cities in the country that is stepping towards becoming a smart city. The city receives knowledge from Khon Kaen University and the technology from NBTC. The MOU is a new page in the history of Thai technologies. The 5G Testing Center will inspire the 3 regional universities to provide equal technologies in the regions, reduce gaps in all dimensions and respond to the target of Khon Kaen to become a smart city and people city, i.e., to use technology with people’s needs at the center. The city will build safety for the people in their lives and assets. The 5 G technologies will benefit the whole region and the country in the future.
In the afternoon, Khon Kaen University administrators signed an MOU for research collaboration in development of 5G technologies with Advance Wireless Network Co.Ltd. The aim is towards educational, research, and testing of 5G technologies and construction of academic knowledge.
Khon Kaen University will support, under this MOU, personnel with expertise to research and use different zones on campus. Advance Wireless Network Co.Ltd. will provide technological information. The MOU is effective from the date it was signed for 2 years.
News: Jiraporn Pratomchia
Information and Photos: Porntip Khamdee
