CAT Telecom Pcl has signed a memorandum of understanding in business cooperation with Symphony Communication Pcl to integrate current and future telecommunication networks and services of both parties to enhance services to customers and also to maximise the potential for telecommunication network usage and services, the companies said.

Dhanant Subhadrabandhu, senior executive vice president, marketing and service, at CAT Telecom said in a joint statement with Symphony that CAT’s mission is not only providing telecommunications network services infrastructure with the highest efficiency of landing and submarine cable systems, CAT also seeks cooperation with telecommunications operators both locally and internationally to increase the potential of telecommunications to meet the needs of customers at all levels, including the exchange of technology and knowledge to jointly push Thailand to the centre of telecommunications technology in the Asean region.

The scope of the MoU is to consolidate both companies’ expertise towards leveraging, sharing and collaborating the existing systems and networks to effectively provide services such as Metro Ethernet, Direct Internet, Voice Service and other services.

Alex Loh, chief operating officer of Symphony, said: “I am delighted to have this strategic collaboration with CAT Telecom, one of the leading national telecommunication and digital service provider in Thailand. “This collaboration intends to have both providers to leverage and optimise our network infrastructure together and expand more services throughout the country. Both companies are also able to share and leverage our strengths in our resources, expertise and infrastructures that will maximise our business growth in the future,” he said.

The app aims to attract 11 million users by the end of this year.

Bangkok Bank executive vice president Prassanee Ouiyamaphan said it will be easier and more convenient to use with several new features, including easy-to-read streaming charts, shortcuts menu for quick access to transactions, easy funds transfer with fewer errors. Meanwhile the option to copy and paste account numbers means there is no need to memorise or write them down and full account numbers can be viewed in a single click.

Also featured are easy app management, with the ability to add, delete and sort third-party accounts, view transaction history by month, and frequently used transactions are grouped together.

Bill payment is made easier with the ability to scan on the first page. Payments can be made quickly in five seconds or just two clicks. Searching for a payee is easy with new categorisation, a list of popular payees, and payees’ logos.

International security standards protect against outdated operating systems and rooted or jailbroken devices. Customer data will be secure as these devices will not be able to make transactions.

The update will be rolled out in batches and the first batch of Bualuang mBanking customers can update their mobile banking app to the new version from today.

All users will be able to update within two weeks. The application will be available for mobile devices with iOS version 9.0 and above or Android version 5.0 and above (Android version 7.0 or above is recommended for the better experience).

Existing customers can access the application using their existing 6-digit PIN without having to reregister. New customers can download the app and sign-up with a Bangkok Bank debit card or credit card number.

“Data during the first four months of this year clearly reflects this changing customer behaviour,” said Prassanee. “Our number of mobile banking users has grown by approximately 28 per cent compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, fund transfers and bill payments via mobile banking grew by 51 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively. This indicates that customers are becoming more familiar with making transactions via mobile banking. Furthermore, the Covid-19 outbreak has also raised concerns over using cash and increased the popularity of online purchasing via mobile banking due to the inconvenience of going to physical stores. In addition, many customers have registered to use their Bangkok Bank account for PromptPay to receive Bt5,000 handouts from the government.”

Wuthichai Sithipreedanant, CPF’s senior vice president for corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, said the company has adopted the circular economy principle to optimise efficiency in the use of resources.

He added that CPF has been proactively looking for solutions to reduce food loss and food waste generated in its operations as well as boost efficiency in the consumption of water and energy. He went on to say that CPF is also using more renewable energy in a bid to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and has continuously reduced single-use plastic and is working on designing eco-friendly packaging.

“As a leading food producer, CPF places importance on safe and eco-friendly production,” Wuthichai said. “The balance of human life is closely linked to the balance of nature. People cannot live in sustainable prosperity without nature’s abundant resources. Therefore, we must take care of the environment as we take care of ourselves.”

He added that CPF wanted to join the fight against plastic waste by developing sustainable plastic packaging. At present, CPF’s plastic packages are reusable and recyclable.

CPF has also developed an effective system of water consumption throughout the production process based on the circular economy principle. For instance, CPF has applied the bio-floc system to its closed shrimp farms in Chanthaburi and Rayong provinces, which allows natural microbes to treat the nitrogen produced from shrimp manure. This reduces the need to replace water in shrimp ponds, leading to a 70 per cent reduction in water consumption compared to conventional shrimp farming.

The company is further reducing its water footprint by using ultra filtration technology to filter recycled water, which is then used to refill shrimp ponds.

Currently, 26 per cent of CPF’s power consumption comes from renewable energy produced from biowaste. The company aims to run coal-free operations by 2022.

Meanwhile, CPF has transformed wastewater and manure in all its swine farms into biogas to generate electricity. This practice has been expanded to the company’s operations in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

CPF has also installed solar rooftops in 24 feed mills, food-processing plants, ready-to-eat production plants and distribution centres. The solar rooftops generate 15 megawatts worth of electricity and are expected to be fully operational within this year.

The company has also joined the Royal Forest Department and local communities in reforesting 5,971 rai around Lopburi’s Khao Phraya Doen Tong area.

The tips are:

– Keep calm and cut/turn off the power source as fast as possible

– Absolutely do not touch the victim with bare hands

– Use dry rope or towel pull the victim from the electricity source in a swift manner

For more information on electricity safety, contact MEA call center 1130, twitter: @MEA_news, Line: @meathailand, facebook: @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority or download the mobile application “MEA Smart Life”, available for both android and iOS users.

The partnership aims to use ICT to boost the airport’s flight traffic, manage its security and promote its digital transformation.

The four-year collaboration starts this year.

In‭ ‬ ‭‬collaboration‭ ‬ ‭ ‬with‭ ‬ the‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Digital‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Economy‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Promotion‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Agency,‭ ‬ the‭ ‬ ‭‬Association‭ ‬ ‭‬of‭ ‬ ‭Thai Software‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Industries,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Line‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Thailand,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Shopee‭ ‬ ‭ ‬and‭ ‬ ‭‭The FinLab,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬the‭ ‬ ‭ ‬training‭ ‬ ‭ ‬programme comprises 12 online courses.

Each runs for one to two hours and will enable SMEs to gain insights into the “new normal” business and social environment Covid-19 has created. For instance, given the growth in online‭ ‬ ‭ ‬spending ‭ ‬during ‭ ‬the ‭ ‬pandemic,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬SMEs‭ ‬ ‭ ‬will‭ ‬ ‭ ‬learn‭ ‬ ‭ ‬how‭ ‬ ‭ ‬to‭ ‬ ‭ ‬use‭‭ ‬digital‭ ‬ ‭ ‬solutions‭ ‬ ‭ ‬to‭ ‬ ‭ ‬attract customers‭ ‬ ‭ ‬through ‭ ‬better‭ ‬ ‭ ‬digital ‭ ‬marketing, ‭ ‬content‭ ‬ ‭ ‬management‭ ‬ ‭ ‬and‭ ‬ ‭ ‬customer‭ ‬ ‭ ‬relationship management.

As part of preparing their businesses for recovery, SMEs will also learn how to accelerate their digital transformation for greater business efficiency.‭ ‬ For example, UOB BizSmart, an integrated suite of cloud-based business solutions, can help the enterprises to manage digitally processes such as accounting, invoicing, employee and payroll management.

UOB’s innovation accelerator, The FinLab, will connect‭ ‬ ‭ ‬‬SMEs‭ ‬ ‭ ‬with‭ ‬ ‭ ‬suitable‭ ‬ ‭ ‬technology‭ ‬ ‭ ‬solution‭ ‬ ‭ ‬providers‭ ‬ to‭ ‬help‭ ‬ ‭them‭ ‬ ‭implement‭ ‬ ‭ ‬relevant digital solutions to seize opportunities.‭ ‬ The bank will also run a course on overseas expansion strategies and opportunities as the region gradually resumes its economic activities.

According‭ ‬ ‭ ‬to‭ ‬ ‭ ‬the‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Office‭ ‬ ‭ ‬of‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Small‭ ‬ ‭ ‬and‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Medium‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Enterprises‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Promotion,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬the‭ ‬  ‬pandemic has resulted in a Bt120-billion loss in income for SMEs as of April. As such, many SME owners recognise the need to react quickly and adjust their strategies and plans so that they can sustain their businesses.

“MEA executives and employees donated money and supplies to create 2,000 sets of MEA care packages to commemorate Her Majesty’s birthday,” MEA governor Keerapat Jiamset said.

“Each care package included alcohol-based hand sanitiser, fabric face mask and a face shield. The packages were distributed among customers who visited the 18 MEA branch offices in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan on June 4 and 5.

“Though the Covid-19 situation in Thailand is improving, MEA is still concerned about people’s safety and would like to remind people to keep their guard up and maintain social distancing,” he added.

“MEA will continue organising charitable activities to help those affected by the outbreak, as well as donate medical equipment to institutes and communities that are short on supplies to ensure we can overcome this crisis together.

The donation was accepted by Education Minister Nataphol Teepsawan.

Founded in late 2019 by two insurance industry veterans, Go! Insurance aims to redefine health insurance in Thailand and in Southeast Asia in terms of simplicity, flexibility and affordability, while offering a hassle-free all-digital customer experience, the company said.

Go! is a digital platform designed to offer personalised health insurance packages that meet customers’ lifestyles and budgets.

The company was founded by Firras Sabbah, previously chief information officer of Allianz Thailand General Insurance, and Eric Agulhon, who has extensive insurance industry experience through positions at MAAF, AXA and Allianz in Europe and Asia.

Go! Insurance is set to kick off in Thailand with GoHealth as its first product for the Thai market. By simply setting a monthly budget, the platform offers a product that matches that budget and once the online payment is done, the customer is insured right away without having to go to any agent or office.

“With the pandemic challenge, we believe that digitising health insurance can benefit everyone, especially people in Thailand and SEA, where digital services are on the rise and people have access to smartphones,” Sabbah said.

“We believe there is a better way of offering insurance packages by creating a digitised product, which customers can complete without disturbing their daily routines,” he added.

GoHealth customers can access a broad network of hospitals where they will be treated the same way as traditionally insured customers, without having to pay anything upfront, the company said.

Go! is working with Krungthai Panich Insurance.

Funds from the pre-seed funding will be used by Go! to stimulate its growth in Thailand, develop its platform and invest in talent acquisition, the platform added.

The new resin is designed with 40 percent PCR content which creates a film with performance comparable to those made with virgin resins. The product, XUS 60921.01, can provide us 17% CO2 reduction and 30% energy savings (estimated numbers depending on factors). The new formulated PCR resin is going to help converters, brand owners and retailers meet their sustainability goals, while also giving a new end-of-life to plastics that otherwise would have become waste.

“This new resin is helping to make a circular economy for plastics a reality, all without compromising on the performance that brand owners and consumers require,” said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific commercial vice president, Dow. “As a material science company, we have the responsibility to bring these products to market to prevent plastics from becoming waste in the environment.”

The growing demand for e-commerce will require durable, efficient packaging that can protect products throughout their supply chains while producing minimal waste for consumers. Dow’s new formulated PCR resin can provide brands and consumers with comparable performance to collation shrink film made with virgin resins to ensure products are delivered safely while also reducing the amount of plastic waste ending up in our environment.

The resin is designed to be used as 100 percent of the core layer of collation shrink applications and will enable the development of film with 13 – 24 percent recycled content.

“Developing new end markets for plastic waste will help incentivize collection and recycling, enabling more recycled products to be developed while reducing the amount of plastics entering our environment,” said Suny Markose, Asia Pacific commercial recycling director for Dow.

The new offering is part of Dow’s comprehensive strategy to develop a circular economy for plastics by focusing on integrating recycled content into product offerings.

To learn more about the product, visit www.dow.com/pcrshrinkfilm.