i- Major Dr Tongkarn Kaewchalermtong Dr...fiber‐optic cable is not shared among agencies or entities. This cost is charged to any telecommunication operators for usage of Optical

Thailand’s experiences on co‐deployment of fiber‐optic infrastructure

along road and rail networksMajor.Tongkarn Kaewchalermtong Ph.D.

November 22, 2018

Workshop on Cross-border co-deployment of fibre optic infrastructure along road and rail networks, 22 NOV 2018, BANGKOK, THAILAND

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Overview Fiber Optic Networks in Thailand

In Thailand, the fiber optic cable network has a total length of 310,000 kilometers. The public sectors have 210,000 kilometers in total, and private sectors have a total length of 100,000 kilometers. The primary stakeholders in public sectors are Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Defense (MOD), Ministry of Interior, in state enterprises are TOT Public Company Limited (TOT), CAT Telecom Public Company Limited (CAT), Metropolitan Electricity Authority of Thailand (MEA), Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), in which have adequate capacity for usage today. However, the network only concentrate and serve within city and municipality area.

2Workshop on Cross-border co-deployment of fibre optic infrastructure along road and rail networks, 2018

Highway


Fiber optic networks along the highway


Overview of the highway network

The highway network is the twin responsibility of the Department of Highways (DOH), and the Department of Rural Roads (DORR), under the oversight of the Transportation ministry of Thailand. Public highways are also called public roads, especially when part of urban streets. The network spans over 70,000 kilometers across all regions of a nation. Thailand has experienced related to co‐deployment/ co‐habitation of fiber‐optic cables along highway. Fiber‐optic cables were laid both along the highway within the right of way, and run parallel to highway or railway routes but located outside the right of way.


Local and national plan and policy

There are local or national plan or policy related to the provision. Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) established the state enterprises named the National Broadband Network Company (NBN) to boost the provision of broadband services to the public and governmental units that provide and manage internet access and related equipment to satisfy the nation’s growing demand, as well as support open access or called network neutrality, and efficiently utilize national infrastructure.


Many public‐sector entities are involved in the co‐deployment/ co‐habitation project which have adequate capacity & capability undertaking, such as the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Overhead Ground Wire with Optical Fibers (OPGW) are widely used in the network. Those OPGW are located on the highest point of transmission towers which cause high reliability to the communication system.


Law and regulationFor local and national law, the royal ordinance and

government gazette are legal coverage for authorization in right of way such as the Department of Highway (DOH).

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Installation and Maintenance Costs

The initial installation cost for deployment/co‐habitation of fiber‐optic cable is not shared among agencies or entities. This cost is charged to any telecommunication operators for usage of Optical Fiber Conductive (OFC) located along highway based upon core‐kilometers. Each entity requires to obtain an individual permission from Department of Highway. The maintenance cost as well as is not shared among agencies or entities for co‐deployment/ co‐habitation of fiber‐optic cables.


BenefitsThe benefits of co‐deployment/ co‐habitation of fiber‐

optic cables along highway are improved efficiency of both transport and ICT systems ‐ reduced project cost, faster deployment through “dig once, use many times” opportunities, economically beneficial for a country ‐ overall reduction in cost of transport and ICT Infrastructure deployment, and minimum disruption of transport services by different utilities including Telecom, Power etc.


Challenges and constraintsThe challenges and constraints of co‐deployment/ co‐

habitation of fiber‐optic cables along highway are coordination among agencies or entities, and planning that is not easy.

In terms of co‐deployment/ co‐habitation of fiber‐optic cables along highway, the overall experience from the country is neutral. But it is experience several international cross border interconnections regarding international private leased circuit (IPLC) service.


Border Crossing of the neighboring countriesThailand has some experience related to fiber‐optic cables

installed/ deployed along highway that crosses the national border and connects to the neighboring country/ countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The fiber‐optic cables were laid across the border of the neighboring country/ countries at border crossing points. At crossing bridge in the border area, the central committee from both countries was established. There in total 10 people, in Thailand 5 committees selected from Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior, and the other from the neighboring country.


Cross Border Node in ThailandCountry Cross Border Node

Myanmar Maesai

Maesod Ban Nampu Ron Kra buri

Laos Chiang Khong Nong Khai Nakhon Phanom Mukdahan

Cambodia Chong Mex Aranyaprathet

Malaysia Sadao Padang Baesar


Railway Routes14Workshop on Cross-border co-deployment of fibre optic infrastructure along road and rail networks, 2018

The investment in fiber optic network cables from a government sector has 2 types. The first type provides a commercial service and generate income to the organizations, and the second one provides service only for internal usage.


Telecommunication System and Railway

The telecommunication system of the state railway of Thailand uses to communicate between train stations. The system composes of 1.Train Control System 2. Communication System 3. Supported Communication System and 4. Others, for example, ticketing system. Today most communication is open wire pole route (OWPR). The network system has been used for 30 years. Most often the system has working problems, and could not get notification from the station which operate the train diagram.


State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and TOT Public Company (TOT) were experience related to co‐deployment/ co‐habitation of fiber‐optic cables along railway routes entitled “Com‐link Project” 30 years ago. This project was a star shape network. However the collaboration had been terminated on March 31, 2011. Fiber‐optic cables were laid along the railway routes and within the right of way. Co‐deployment/ co‐habitation is present in a total of 4,300 kilometers approximately route distance along the right‐of‐way.


Fiber Optic Network on telegraph poles along railway route in Thailand


Local and national plan and policyFor national policy, fiber‐optic communication plan and

designed a railway network for Ministry of Transport (MOT) to use on highway, aeronautical, maritime transportation, and for Ministry of Digital Economy and Social (MDES) to use fiber optic with national broadband network. Today the project still under consideration of committee of digital infrastructure are undertaken by permanent secretary of minister of digital economy and social whom as a role of the chair committee. SRT and TOT are collaborate on the double track project.


Multi public‐sector entities are involved in the co‐deployment/ co‐habitation project which have adequate capacity & capability undertaking, such as TOT Public Company (TOT), CAT Telecom Public Company Limited (CAT), and ALT TELECOM Public Company Limited (ALT).


Law and regulationFor local and national law, the royal ordinance and

government gazette are legal coverage for authorization in right of way such as the State Railway of Thailand. The telecom operators such as ALT need to grant the license to operate business from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC).


Installation and Maintenance CostsThe initial installation cost is not shared among agencies

or entities, but it varies depending upon the scope of work. The maintenance cost varies depending upon the scope of work, and some case it is not shared among agencies or entities.


BenefitsThe benefits of co‐deployment/ co‐habitation of fiber‐

optic cables along railway routes are improved efficiency of both transport and ICT systems ‐ reduced project cost, faster deployment through “dig once, use many times” opportunities, economically beneficial for a country ‐ overall reduction in cost of transport and ICT Infrastructure deployment,


Benefits (Cont.)additional and diversified revenue earnings to transport agency from lease of unused bandwidth to telecom operators, improved traffic management and other benefits from wider application of intelligent Transport Systems related benefits, minimum disruption of transport services by different utilities including Telecom, Power etc., enhanced sustainable development along with employment generation, and improved road safety.


Challenges and constraintsThe challenges and constraints of co‐deployment/ co‐

habitation of fiber‐optic cables along railway routes are coordination among agencies/ entities, lack of legal coverage, planning is not easy, and benefits are not clear/ lack of awareness. In terms of co‐deployment/ co‐habitation of fiber‐optic cables along highway, the overall experience from the public sectors are neutral, but from the private sectors are very much favorable.


Border Crossing of the neighboring countries

The fiber‐optic cables were laid across and connects to the two borders of the neighboring countries, for example Thailand and Malaysia. SRT and Keretapi Tanah MelayuBerhad (KTMB) or Malayan Railways Limited which is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia, had been linked both fiber‐optic and telephone networks. However the systems provided at the border interchange point were terminated when the Com‐link contract expired.


Thank you


Documents

i- Major Dr Tongkarn Kaewchalermtong Dr...fiber‐optic cable is not shared among agencies or entities. This cost is charged to any telecommunication operators for usage of Optical