DTAC Overview
DTAC (Total Access Communication) is a major telecom operator brand in Thailand, originally an independent company under Norway's Telenor Group. On March 1, 2023, DTAC completed a merger with True to form True Corporation Public Company Limited, with DTAC continuing to operate as an important brand. After the merger, True Corporation has over 52 million mobile users, becoming Thailand's largest telecom company by user scale, with over 10.5 million 5G users and 5G network coverage reaching 90% of the population.
In the IoT field, DTAC leverages the network resources of True Corporation after the merger to provide IoT connectivity, dedicated APN, and other services for enterprises in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The DTAC brand has strong recognition in the prepaid and youth markets, and its IoT solutions cover scenarios such as retail, logistics, and utilities.
DTAC Basic Information
- Established: 1989 (originally Total Access Communication)
- Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand
- Original Shareholder: Telenor Group (Norway)
- After the merger: Brands under True Corporation (March 2023)
- Users after the merger: Over 52 million (Total for True Corporation)
- 5G users: Over 10.5 million (Merged entity)
- 5G coverage: 90% of the population
- Brand Characteristics: Prepaid, strong presence in the young user market
- Network Standards: 4G LTE, 5G NR, NB-IoT
Development History and Milestones
DTAC was established in 1989, originally Total Access Communication, and was one of the first mobile operators in Thailand. GSM services were launched in 1994. In 2001, the Norwegian Telenor Group invested in the company and later became the controlling shareholder. DTAC continuously expanded through the 2G, 3G, and 4G eras, occupying an important market share in Thailand with prepaid and cost-effective strategies. Commercial 5G launched in 2020.
In 2022, True and DTAC announced a merger plan, which was completed on March 1, 2023, forming True Corporation. After the merger, the DTAC brand was retained and operated alongside True Move as a dual brand. True Corporation became the largest telecom company in Thailand, with over 52 million users, achieving significant synergy effects and consecutive quarterly EBITDA growth.
Core Technical Capabilities
5G Wide Coverage
After the merger, 5G covers 90% of the population, with 10.5 million 5G users
Scale advantage
True Corporation has over 52 million users, network resource sharing
Brand awareness
Strong in prepaid and younger users, which helps IoT in everyday, mass-market uses
Network integration
Integrated with the True network, with 10,800 sites modernized and better connection quality
Network standards and coverage
| Technical Standard | Coverage | Use Cases | Development Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | Nationwide in Thailand | Mainstream IoT Connection | Main Network |
| 5G NR | 90% population coverage | Industrial IoT, Smart Cities | Continuous expansion |
| NB-IoT | Major Regional Deployment | Smart metering, sensors | Commercial deployment |
| 3G | Some areas | Traditional IoT Devices | Being retired |
Industry Solutions
Retail and Logistics
- POS terminal connection
- Fleet Management
- Warehouse Monitoring
- Cold Chain Tracking
Smart city
- Intelligent Traffic Management
- Public lighting control
- Environmental Monitoring Sensors
- Smart parking system
Utilities
- Smart meter reading
- Remote Water Meter Reading
- Energy consumption analysis
- Smart Agriculture
Industrial Manufacturing
- Remote equipment monitoring
- Asset tracking and positioning
- Predictive Maintenance
- Production Line IoT
Competitive Advantages
- Merger scale: True Corporation has over 52 million users, the largest in Thailand
- 5G coverage: 90% population, 10.5 million 5G users
- Brand Advantages: DTAC prepaid, high recognition among young users
- Synergy Benefits: Net synergy after merger exceeds 1 billion THB
- Telenor experience: Operating practice carried over from former shareholder Telenor
Service Support System
Enterprise services
- Dedicated Enterprise Account Manager
- IoT Solution Consulting
- Dedicated APN Configuration
- SLA Guarantee Agreement
Platform Capabilities
- Connection management platform
- SIM Lifecycle Management
- Traffic Monitoring and Alerts
- API Integration
Integration Support
- True-DTAC Dual Brand Coordination
- Compliance and licensing consultation
- Localized technical support
- Cross-border roaming solutions