Huge Mobile Bandwidth Increase Needed as AI Use Surges

Why It Matters

The bandwidth shortfall threatens mobile service quality as AI applications generate unprecedented upload traffic. Resolving the spectrum gap is critical for Thailand’s telecom competitiveness and for avoiding conflict with digital TV broadcasters.

Key Takeaways

• Operators need at least 100 MHz extra each
• NBTC plans 3,500 MHz auction by late 2026/2027
• AI apps drive sharp rise in data uploads
• Digital TV broadcasters oppose spectrum reallocation
• Phased rollout could prevent service quality decline

Pulse Analysis

The rapid adoption of generative AI tools—from image generators to real‑time transcription services—has reshaped mobile traffic patterns worldwide. While video streaming has traditionally driven downlink demand, AI applications generate large volumes of user‑originated data, creating a pronounced uplink surge. In Thailand, the NBTC’s monitoring team recorded consistent month‑on‑month growth in upload volumes, a trend mirrored in other emerging markets where consumers increasingly rely on AI to create content on‑the‑go. This shift forces operators to rethink capacity planning, emphasizing spectrum that supports both downstream and upstream flows.

Allocating additional spectrum in a market already crowded with mobile, broadcast and satellite services is a delicate balancing act. The NBTC’s proposed 3,500 MHz auction, divided into 100 MHz blocks, aims to free up roughly 300–400 MHz for telecom use, but the plan collides with the Association of Digital TV Broadcasting’s concerns that reassigning the band could impair satellite TV delivery for the country’s 60 % of viewers who rely on that platform. To mitigate disruption, regulators are weighing a phased‑in licensing model that would let operators activate portions of the new band before digital TV licences lapse in 2029.

The outcome of the spectrum auction will shape Thailand’s telecom landscape for the next decade. Securing the needed uplink capacity will enable AIS and True to roll out AI‑enhanced services such as on‑device video editing and real‑time language translation, keeping them competitive against regional rivals. Conversely, prolonged delays or restrictive conditions could erode subscriber experience, prompting users to shift to over‑the‑top platforms that bypass traditional carriers. Investors and policymakers alike are watching closely, as the resolution will signal how swiftly Southeast Asia can accommodate AI‑driven data growth.