The aim of the joint project is to promote technology ecosystem collaboration among members from both platforms including Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. This will facilitate innovation, international networks, business opportunities as well as increase media channels and activities. Experts in each of the countries can serve at the centre of high-quality human resources in technology, the partners say.

Open-Tec is a tech knowledge-sharing platform operated by TCC Technology Group, an integrated technology infrastructure provider in Thailand. It is  ready to collaborate with W.Media Pte Ltd, a global B2B technology marketing agency that specialises in public relations, media and events for four major mutual interests:

● Cross-border activities: Co-developing country members in terms of technology skills and knowledge updates on technology trends in the digital era.

● Cross-ecosystem: Co-creating new methods to connect the ecosystem for long-term collaborative learning according to country members’ needs as well as publicizing change of directions in each country member.

● Cross-platform: Levelling up the body of tech knowledge between trustful platforms to build trust and success in various industries.

● Cross-media: Promoting  communications with the public about members’ digital strategies, initiatives and workforce capability.

“Open-Tec is a platform created from TCC Technology Group that is intent on collecting and sharing knowledge of technology to build organizational innovation for TCC Group’s employees as well as startups, corporates and students in Thailand,” said Waleeporn Sayasit, corporate communications director of TCC Technology Co., Ltd. (TCCtech).

“ We are delighted to announce the collaboration between Open-Tec and W.Media that leads us on to a challenging goal in increasing benefits for the people in the region. Each country is striving to build a strategic alliance with international organizations for new collaborations. “To increase positive impact on business and social sustainability, this can be done through tech knowledge sharing and learning in the international arena which is another alternative way to integrated sustainable development.”

Vincent Liew, co-founder and director of W.Media Pte Ltd, said: “Asean  nations are expected to become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030 and digital transformation to Industry 4.0 can be accelerated by combining ideas and resources.”

Reinforcing MediaTek’s leadership in edge AI, the i700 platform can be applied in a wide range of scenarios, including smart city, smart building and smart manufacturing. As an integrated platform encompassing CPU, GPU, ISP and a dedicated AI processing unit, it enables customers to accelerate the development of AI-enabled consumer IoT products.

Representing a new generation of AI IoT solutions, the i700 platform is powered by an octa-core CPU, which includes two 2.2GHz ARM Cortex-A75 cores and six 2.0GHz ARM Cortex-A55 cores, operating alongside an IMG 9XM-HP8 ISP that is clocked at 970MHz. The new AI IoT platform supports CorePilot, which ensures processing resources are allocated efficiently across all cores for maximum performance and battery efficiency.

An improved AI engine comprising a dedicated dual-core AI processor, AI Accelerator and AI Face Detection Engine is embedded in the i700 platform. Combined, the new components enable the platform to perform AI computations five times faster than its predecessor, the i500. In addition, i700 supports MediaTek’s NeuroPilot SDK. Compatible with Google’s Android Neural Networks API, it provides an open platform for customers and device manufacturers to take full advantage of common industry frameworks including TensorFlow, TF Lite, Caffe and Caffe2 when developing new applications.

“With the arrival of 5G networks, smart devices are driving the demand for better edge AI and IoT performance,” noted Jerry Yu, senior corporate vice president of MediaTek’s Intelligent Devices business unit.

“As the most direct way for us to interact with devices, image recognition technology has already been widely adopted in various industries. The latest MediaTek i700 platform is an integrated solution combining MediaTek’s wide breath of expertise such as in multimedia, wireless communications and AI. Not only does it provide our customers with a sophisticated platform to develop on, but also it underpins our efforts to support the AI IoT ecosystem for a truly hyperconnected future.”

The powerful i700 supports camera configurations of up to a single 32MP camera or a 24MP+16MP dual-camera setup. It also supports accurate, zero-latency image recognition on 30fps videos shot on a 32MP camera, as well as high speed recognition on high resolution 120fps slow motion videos. Furthermore, the upgraded tri-core ISP supports 14-bit RAW and 10-bit YUV processing, while the AI Face Detection engine enables fast facial recognition.

According to the Talent Trends 2019: Upskilling for a Digital World report, chief executives in Japan (95%) and Central and Eastern Europe (89%) are the most worried, whereas their peers in Italy (55%) and Turkey (45%) are the least anxious about skills. Of those most worried, 55 per cent say their business is not able to innovate effectively as a result, while 52 per cent said it is pushing up their people costs faster than expected.

The survey found that CEOs are shifting how they fill talent gaps. Almost half – 46 per cent – of chief executives globally say significant retraining/upskilling is the most important initiative to close a potential skills gap, versus just 18 per cent who say it’s hiring from outside their industry.

This is in contrast to surveys conducted in previous years, which have shown CEOs exploring the idea of hiring from other sectors – particularly industries that are further along the innovation journey – and using “gig economy” workers.

The refocusing on upskilling is taking place against a background of rising use of automation and artificial intelligence (AI). While these technologies will inevitably displace some workers, CEOs’ opinions vary on the scale and speed.

What’s clear is that investment in digital upskilling is just one part of what’s needed to create the workforce of the future, PwC said, because engaging workers to acquire new skills also requires a strong learning culture to be inextricably woven into a high-quality workplace.

Pirata Phakdeesattayaphong, Consulting Partner, PwC Thailand, said that when it comes to a shortage of skilled digital workers, Thai organisations share a similar concern with their global peers. Talented employees in data analytics, cloud computing, machine learning and data privacy skills are particularly in high demand.

“Thai companies are not passive about this issue. Many have increasingly invested in their workforce. For instance, many have adopted cloud ERP solutions for human resources while offering digital upskilling programmes for employees to close the skills gap and reduce growing concerns over jobs being replaced by technology,” she said.

To create good work, organisations will need first-rate workforce data, PwC said. While 86 per cent of CEOs say the right people data is vital, only 29 per cent believe the data they currently receive is adequate.

CEOs are also aware that the impact of automation on the workforce has implications for public trust. Half of the respondents see a lack of trust in business as a threat to growth, and they know that how they handle automation will publicly test that narrative.

In light of this, the survey shows CEOs are divided on where the responsibility for workers displaced by automation and AI should fall: 66 per cent believe the government should provide incentives for the development and use of AI, while 56 per cent think it should provide a safety net for displaced workers.

“Employers need to satisfy the growing desire for ‘good work’ – a fulfilling, rewarding experience that meets a set of high-quality values,” said Carol Stubbings, joint leader for Global People & Organisation at PwC UK. “Technology brings opportunities for efficiencies and cost management, but it also brings the opportunity to make working lives more productive and fulfilling,” she added.

The service, which is available around the clock, does away with the need to fill in a form, or carry a passbook. The limit for withdrawal at 7-Eleven stores is Bt50 to Bt5,000 per transaction with a daily limit of Bt20,000. A service fee of Bt15 will be charged per transaction and a national ID card is required for every withdrawal transaction. Customers simply use KPLUS for withdrawal transactions, presenting the QR code or barcode on their mobile phones to cashiers to scan to receive cash instantly. KBank plans to offer cash withdrawal service via QR code on K PLUS at Big C and Thailand Post outlets nationwide by the end of this year.

The new HP Stitch S Printer series includes a portfolio of three new printers for textile printing from 64-inch to 126-inch wide – the HP Stitch S300 64-in Printer, the HP Stitch S500 64-in Printer and HP Stitch S1000 126-in Printer.

As part of the launch, HP also announced a new collaboration with Thai online clothing store Varithorn Boutique, which will see limited-edition dresses with a unique textile print by the HP Stitch S.

“HP’s expansion into the Thai textile printing and fashion industry is timely as fashion designers and textile printers look to innovate with commercial digital printing across a fast-growing industry. This is a time of great opportunity for Thai market,” said Pavin Vorapruck, managing director of HP Thailand.

Ranging from ultrafast downloading of lengthy movies to driving autonomous vehicles on connected urban highways, the 5G network is expected to enable futuristic technologies.

With telecom companies around the world seeking to maximize benefits of 5G technology, Korea’s leading mobile carrier KT is envisioning an area where the technology can fulfill its potential globally: disease prevention.

“Human beings and animals suffer from infectious disease, and about $60 billion (Bt1,854 billion) is being spent a year around the world to prevent suffering,” KT chief Hwang Chang-gyu said during a speech at the World Food Organisation last month.

“In the era of the 5G network, information and communication technology can make the visions of the ‘fourth industrial revolution’ a reality. Based on the advanced technology, we can protect humans and animals from infectious diseases.”

Over the past few years, KT has introduced its disease prevention platforms to countries around the world. Based on massive data collected by the advanced network, KT is seeking to establish a global warning system for pandemics.

During the World Economic Forum in Davos last year, Hwang proposed an initiative called the “Global Epidemic Prevention Platform”. He called for each country to implement the system aimed at warning about pandemics through mobile devices.

Kenya, Ghana, Laos and other developing countries have since been trying to provide the service for people visiting areas prone to infectious diseases. KT said the advanced travel-warning system is to become available as later this year.

“In a normal situation, only those who agreed to provide personal information can receive information about diseases,” said KT officials. “But the alarm system is available to everyone in the event of pandemic diseases.”

Recently, KT has sought to broaden the scope of the GEPP initiative, expanding its disease prevention system to livestock, which can be as vulnerable to transnational pandemics as humans.

Dubbed the “Livestock Epidemic Prevention Platform,” the initiative aims to stem the cross-border flow of infectious diseases among animals. Some Asian countries have suffered recently from African swine fever, which is thought to have originated in Africa.

To improve the disease prevention system, KT urged governments around the world to collect information on animal diseases and share this with each other. The company also pledged to protect sensitive information through blockchain technology.

“Using ICT technology can not only boost agricultural productivity but can also free livestock from the danger of infectious diseases,” KT chief Hwang said in his speech at an international conference hosted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation last month.

The idea of using a mobile network to combat infectious diseases became popular in South Korea during the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome crisis. Having originated from countries in the Middle East, the disease claimed 37 lives after infecting 186 people in Korea.

During the public health crisis, KT introduced a system to figure out whether a passenger entering Korea had visited MERS-infected countries. If the passenger were found to have visited such countries, KT shared the information with the Korean disease prevention agency.

While the current alarm system mostly focuses on notifying authorities about whether a traveller visited countries prone to infectious diseases, KT is seeking to establish an early warning system for global pandemics.

“Through ICT technology, KT will materialise the social value of public health and safety,” KT Vice President Yoon Jong-jin said last month, when the company pledged to work with the Korean Society of Infectious Disease to develop an early warning system for diseases.

In Thailand, Julian Gorman, head of Asia Pacific at GSMA, said that in 2025 around 1.4 million of people in the global will be connected or subscribed with 5G connections and around 50 per cent of totally is subscribers from China.

For Thailand, 5G will create high potential growth in the country and boost values for the digital economy in various industries such as healthcare, education, smart agriculture and manufacturing. The 5G network will able to improve efficiency of business and create a 5G ecosystem for the country as a whole.

Though 5G provides a larger speed range, it still depends on each network’s latency and devices among other factors. Compared to 4G, 5G offers speeds that are much higher and a broader bandwidth, allowing users to reach approximately 10Gbps maximum internet download speed, compared to the 4G+ connections’ speed of 300Mbps.

To clarify the difference in speed, Lifewire has collected the following data on the time required to download a 3GB film. The test was run on realistic speed, not peak speeds: 3G: 1 hour, 8 minutes, 4G: 40 minutes, 4G LTE: 27 minutes, 5G: 35 seconds

According to a report on internet consumption from the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), Thais on average spend 10 hours and five minutes daily online – three times more than last year. Over the past four years, the online presence of Y and Z generations has been 10 hours and 22 minutes on weekdays and almost 12 hours on the weekends. In comparison, Gen X and the baby boomers have been averaging around eight hours on both weekdays and weekends.

Judging from these details, Thai consumers appear to be ready for 5G. According to Ericsson’s ConsumerLab Report, one in two smartphone users in Thailand will switch their network provider if they are given moving benefits and if their current provider doesn’t offer 5G technology.

We have gathered opinions from three generations about 5G, their familiarity with this technology, what they expect from Thai providers, how much they are willing to spend on both smartphones and monthly subscription, and when they will shift to the 5G network.

College student Ploy, 20

“I first heard about 5G technology when I got my 4G smartphone. It has been promised for ages now. I would love the new technology because I’m a heavy internet user, downloading films and surfing social-media networks.

“However, I believe it will only be available in Bangkok. My Netflix dies sometimes when I travel upcountry with my family, as the 4G network service is very limited. If I have the opportunity to change my phone, I will – but it depends on whether my mum will let me. I currently use the Bt899 monthly subscription, and if I’m offered 5G speeds at the same price, it will be great!”

Office worker, 26, who works and lives in Bangkok’s Ratchada area

“It’s like an upgraded version of 4G right? If it is more convenient and provides higher speeds, there is no reason to keep using the same service. I have learned that I will need to change my phone too. I think the new one will be more expensive, because it will use new technology. I prefer to wait for yearend promotions. I suspect monthly subscriptions of less than Bt1,000 will be offered for the 5G service.”

Government officer Wanida Rumroy, 59

“I have read on Facebook that 5G technology will perhaps be available by the end of this year. I assume Huawei will dominate the 5G mobile market in Thailand. I don’t care about it much, because my phone is still working just fine. If it breaks, then I will say hello to a 5G phone. New technology is expensive, but the price should not be more than 15 to 20 per cent higher than what’s offered now, or people will not be encouraged to change.”

Nobody we spoke to knew about 5G television, which will automatically connect to the mobile network without users having to rely on Wi-Fi connections. Though everybody was excited about it, their excitement seemed to die when we revealed how much it would cost.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has granted 700MHz licences to the three key telecom operators – DTAC, Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Corporation. The terms of the licences become valid in October 2020, and NBTC also plans to allocation additional spectra to prepare for the launch of 5G.

Experiments on 5G across the world

Remote surgery

The world’s first test-run on remote surgery through 5G was successfully conducted in China on January 8 this year. A doctor in the southeastern province of Fujian successfully removed the liver of a laboratory animal located 50 kilometres away. The surgery was done using the extremely low latency of 5G with 0.1 seconds lag time.

Smart farming

A new gadget for monitoring the health of cows is being tested in the English town of Shepton Mallet, with 51 dairy cows wearing 5G smart collars and ear tags. The 5G collars are connected to an automated milking system that keeps track of when the cows need to be milked and automatically opens the gate for them.

The harvesting of crops in England is also connected to 5G technology. Some farmers are already using cellular internet of things technology to optimise the level of fertiliser in their fields and can estimate when the crop is ready to be harvested through sensors in soil or in farming equipment.

Driverless cars

Cars will soon be intelligent enough to no longer require a human driver. These cars will be connected to other vehicles, infrastructure, architecture and traffic signs through onboard sensors and connectivity chips, so they can deliver their passengers to their destination safely. It is expected that automakers, tech companies and communications providers will soon start competing to put V2X (vehicle to any communication) on the road in the near future, and the logistics market is expected to grow at a significant pace and subsequently bring the costs down.

New gaming generation

There is a promise that 5G will usher a new era to the gaming world, with faster, more stable internet connections and new compatible devices. The technology will not only provide cloud-based gamers with higher resolution and next to no lag time on game-streaming services, they will also get to enjoy close-to-reality experiences with virtual reality headsets. These developments are bound to have game developers gearing up to compete in the future.

Related news: Look beyond FAANGs for tech investments

The findings come from a recent study on the “Future of Field Operations” conducted by the company, which manufactures data devices and services designed to give businesses a performance edge.

The study results indicate a trend of rising investment in disruptive technologies and mobile devices to enhance worker productivity and customer satisfaction in field operations including fleet management, field services, proof of delivery and store delivery workflows.

The online survey interviewed 2,075 mobility decision makers from 20 countries – the  US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, China, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Tan Aik Jin of Zebra Technologies reported the headline findings as follows:

* 44 per cent of respondents consider truck loading automation will be among one of the most disruptive technologies, compared to 28 per cent globally.

Emerging technologies and faster networks are disrupting field operations.

* Mobile-first organisations in Asia-Pacific tend to be early adopters of emerging efficiency-boosting field operations technologies.

* Use of sensors, radio frequency identification (RFID) and intelligent labels is expected to grow from the current 76 per cent of mobile-first companies to 98 per cent by 2023.

* Use of augmented reality applications will grow from 68 per cent to 95 per cent by 2023, making detail-oriented workflows such as merchandising much more efficient.

* Use of blockchain forecast to rise from 68 to 96 per cent by 2023, to track goods’ chains of custody or documents via multiple firms.

“Driven by the acceleration of e-commerce along with customer’s heightened expectations and more focus within companies on differentiating service levels, the field operations industry is rapidly adapting the way it looks at its mobile technology investments,” said Jin.

The study also found that up to 44 per cent of Asia-Pacific organisations view mobility investment as a top priority.

* 58 per cent of Asia-Pacific organisations are expanding mobile technology to enterprise-wide use – reaching 97 per cent by 2023.

* From 2018 to 2023, the use of handheld mobile computers with built-in barcode scanners in Asia-Pacific is forecast to grow by 41 per cent, mobile printers by 60 per cent and rugged tablets by 57 per cent. The higher levels of inventory, shipment and asset accuracy provided by using these devices is expected to increase business revenues.

* Mobile-first organisations in Asia-Pacific are conducting total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis prior to major expenditure on mobile technology up to 83 per cent of the time.

* Only 34 per cent of the survey respondents believe that consumer smartphones have better TCO than rugged specialised devices.

The aim was to unleash creative possibilities with the use of TikTok app and to achieve that, the participants were provided with valuable insights on how they can use the platform to engage the highly-sought after Gen Z demographic. The conference also featured a series of keynote sessions and a panel by regional TikTok representatives to discuss the rise of short-form video content.

Latest studies show that Southeast Asians are among the most active on mobiles, spending an average of about four hours daily on devices, and TikTok makes the most of this habit by providing easy-to-use video capturing and editing tools, allowing for the creation of content that reflects diversity.

“We’re noticing a steady increase in the consumption of short-form video content in Thailand and across the region, especially among Gen Z, 98 per cent of whom own a smartphone. Through [REC]reate, we aim to arm both creators and marketers with the insight and know-how needed to connect with these valuable audiences,” said Lionel Sim, senior director for TikTok Ads’ global marketing-business solutions.

TikTok also recently launched a special AR-stickers campaign during the last Big Mountain Music Festival in Khao Yai.

The platform, offering social-media enthusiasts 15-seconds of fame, is available in more than 150 countries and in 75 languages. It can be downloaded via iOS or Google Play.

The move was accompanied by several other top-management appointments with Norasit Sitivechvichit named Chief Commercial Officer, Kanop Supamanop, Chief Content Business Officer, and Chanwoot Luechaisit Chief Marketing Officer. The new positions come into effect on July 15.

“During our search for a new leadership team, we realised that we already had a strong and experienced lineup of leaders ideally situated to take LINE Thailand to the next level,” said Eunjung Lee, Senior Vice President of Global Business Development at LINE Plus Corporation. “Under the leadership of Phichet and the new management team, we are confident that LINE Thailand will grow even faster, creating ever more ways for LINE to be the favorite platform for all aspects of people’s digital lives.”

Currently the Director of Government Affairs, Phichet will be responsible for leading the company’s strategic planning and direction, growing business partnerships and government alliances, supporting the management team and consolidating the businesses within the LINE ecosystem to drive future growth. He will also continue his lead role in Government Affairs. Before joining LINE Thailand in 2016, Phichet was the Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Google (Thailand).

Norasit will switch from his position as Director of Commerce to Chief Commercial Officer and will be in charge of commercial strategy and operations for LINE Biz-Solutions (LINE’s lineup of B2B services), LINE Stickers, and business service innovation.

Kanop,  currently Director of LINE Stickers, will become Chief Content Business Officer (CCBO), responsible for managing all content development at LINE TV and LINE, Kanop joined LINE Thailand in early 2017 as the Head of B2C and LINE Stickers.

Chanwoot, currently Director of Marketing Communications, will be appointed as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), in charge of marketing, marketing communications and corporate communications for all LINE Thailand services and platforms.