BANGKOK, 3 March 2014 Colonel Natee Sukolrat, Vice President of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Chairman of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) said today that there has been approval of a plan to expand the digital TV network to cover another 28 provinces.
There are two phases of digital TV network expansion that will soon cover 80 percent of the population. The first phase of digital TV network expansion will start broadcasting on April 1 in four provinces: Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai and Songkhla. Then, in May, the system will start in another three provinces, including: Ubon Ratchathani, Surat Thani and Rayong, and soon after that, it will cover Singburi, Sukhothai, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani.
The second phase of network expansion will happen in six phases. From August 1, the system will start in Roi Et, Chiang Rai, Sa Kaeo and Nakhon Sawan. On October 1, the system will start in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket, Trang and Lampang. On December 1, the system will start in another five provinces including Sakon Nakhon, Surin, Nan, Phetchabun and Prachuap Kirikhan; on February 1 of next year, the system will start in Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Trat, Mukdahan and Tak; on April 1, 2015 the system will start in Mae Hong Son, Ranong, Loei, Chaiyaphum and Phrae; and on June 1, 2015 the network will cover Satun, Uttaradit, Beung Kan, Sri Saket and Yala.