Bangkok Airways celebrates its recent world-class achievements which are World’s Best Regional Airline & Best Regional Airline Awards 2019 from Skytrax by offering exclusively-made and designed chocolate bites for passengers at its passenger lounges (domestic and international), Suvarnabhumi Airport during June 19-21.

Moreover, the airline also launches the “Thank You for Your Love” promotion that offers special fares on both domestic and international routes. Booking can be made from today until June 23 and can be used for travels until December 31.

The “Thank You for Your Love” promotion fares start from just Bt1,100 per one way for domestic routes (except domestic in/out Samui).

For domestic routes in and out of Samui, the fare starts from just Bt2,550 per one way.

For international routes, the fare starts from just Bt1,390 Baht per one way or Bt2,190 per roundtrip. The offered fares are not inclusive of taxes and surcharges.

Passengers can see more information about the promotion and/or make a reservation at http://bit.ly/2XjvAP3 or contact Bangkok Airways Call Center tel 1771 or +66 (2) 2270 6699 (24hrs.) or at Bangkok Airways Ticketing Offices nationwide.

As part of this, they planted 1,500 big and small-leave mangrove trees at the Bangpu Nature Education Centre built in commemoration of the 72 th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, in 2005 in Samut Prakan province.

This activity is part of “Panasonic Environment Vision 2050” to achieve “A Better Life” and “A Sustainable Global Environment.”

Panasonic will work towards creation and more efficient utilization of energy which exceeds the amount of energy used, aiming for a society with clean energy and a more comfortable lifestyle. It can be considered as an extension of Panasonic’s conservation effort and serves as a good opportunity for employees to better appreciate nature, and to preserve, restore, and sustain the balanced ecosystem of mangrove forest.

Sirirat Yongcharoenchai, General Manager of Panasonic Management (Thailand), said, “Panasonic in Thailand had conducted activities destined to preserve the environment annually. Each year we adjust the content of an activity to be aligned with the current environmental issues facing the society and the specific matter where our employees are most interested in.

These are, for example, the preservation and restoration of tropical forest and mangrove forest and the making of artificial saltlicks as well as the collection of beach garbage. This year, we consider that mangrove forests are ecologically valuable to the coastal ecosystem as they provide shelter for various species of plants and animals, protect shorelines, and prevent erosion.

Mangrove forests also provide a barrier against damaging storm and waves at the estuary and help protect the lives and properties of coastal inhabitants from natural disasters. Therefore, this kind of natural resource delivers countless economic and environmental value to the country.”

She also said, “Panasonic first planted mangrove trees in Bangpu District 11 years ago. This year again is a precious moment for us to take along our employees and their families to participate. Apart from expanding the reforestation area, we monitor the results of what we have done 11 years ago. We are very excited that the trees have grown impressively as the overall mangrove forest area is increasing amidst an abundance of the natural ecosystem.”

“By planting 1,500 big- and small-leaved mangrove trees, we expect the nature here and in surrounding areas to be restored and expanded in the near future. It will certainly become a well-preserved and futile green area in a sustainable way. In the long run, this mangrove forest will become an important source of energy and food, a natural tool that helps maintain the balance of the coastal ecosystem and a place where carbon dioxide is effectively reduced,” said the general manager.

Juraporn Khonyai, an employee of Panasonic Group in Thailand who participated in the activity, commented, “I am very delighted that Panasonic is working on a conservation effort like this and happy to see my family taking part in and enjoying the company’s outstanding contribution to the environment.

In addition to sharing a constructive time spending with my family and colleagues, I have a wonderful moment taking along my children to experience the beauty of nature and learn more about the biological diversity in a different way. Most of all, I expect this participation creates greater awareness of the importance of Nature and fosters an eco-friendly attitude in them by starting from their childhood years.”

Panasonic is always committed to creating a better quality of life and a better world. We will continue to contribute and give back to the Thai society in whatever part we can do, especially in preserving and maintaining the valuable nature in a more sustainable way through fostering an eco-friendly attitude in its employees and people.

The outlet is located at Siam Piwat Tower Bangkok, near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. It comprises around 200 stores including dining, leisure, and entertainment options, covering an area of 50,000 square meters.

On Wednesday morning, representatives of all three operators, AIS, DTAC, and True Corp, submitted their applications for licences to the NBTC.

The NBTC today put on sale three slots of the 700MHz spectrum at a price of Bt17.584 billion each. Each slot features a 10MHz bandwidth. The licence lasts 15 years with payments to be made in 10 instalments.

The applicants will select their targeted spectrum slot this afternoon.

DTAC’s board on Wednesday gave the green light for DTAC TriNet to submit the application for one block of the 700MHz spectrum to the NBTC.

DTAC chief executive officer Alexandra Reich said, “DTAC believes that this investment will provide significant benefits to all stakeholders as the 700 MHz spectrum can be used for 5G. The opportunity to acquire an additional 2×10 MHz of low-band spectrum brings our total bandwidth up to 130 MHz [including 2300 MHz in partnership with TOT].”

Reich also stressed that despite the possibility of using 700MHz for 5G services, the NBTC has yet to develop a clear 5G spectrum road map for both high- and low-band spectrum.

She said, “Thailand is moving towards a full digital society, in which the readiness of 5G is a key element. Therefore, a clear spectrum roadmap is critical to the industry because it helps us create effective long-term investment plans to build infrastructure that can help boost the country’s economy.”

The company said the 700MHz spectrum would boost DTAC’s network coverage nationwide, resulting in an improved mobile internet experience in remote areas in addition to higher capacity for urban users.

The NBTC will use proceeds from the slot sales to help ease the financial burden of digital TV broadcasters.

The sale of the 700MHz spectrum stems from the junta’s recent launch of relief measures to ease financial pressures on the three 900MHz telecom operators as well as digital TV companies.

The three 900MHz operators are subsidiaries of Advanced Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communication (DTAC) and True Corp.

Under the relief measures, the NBTC will also ease the burden on the three holders of the 900MHz spectrum licence by increasing the number of instalments from four to 10.

However, the relief measures include a condition that any 900MHz licence holder taking up the relief measures must also purchase a 700MHz spectrum slot from the NBTC.

If they decline to buy the slots, the longer instalment plan is cancelled and they would have to pay as per the original payment schedule.

According to the original schedule, AIS subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network and True Corp’s subsidiary TrueMove H Universal Communication are scheduled to pay hefty final instalments of Bt59.574 billion and Bt60.218 billion, respectively, for their 900MHz licences in 2020.

DTAC subsidiary DTAC TriNet is due to pay its Bt30.024 billion final instalment for the 900MHz band in 2022.

Phongsthorn Thavisin, president and chief executive Officer of PTTEP, said: “This official declaration of FID confirms that the Mozambique Area 1 project will now advance to the construction phase, a significant step closer to making Mozambique’s first onshore LNG facility a reality. The project will help add to PTTEP production volumes and petroleum reserves for our long-term growth. We are also looking forward to the project’s contribution in meeting the global demand for clean energy.”

Mozambique Area 1 will initially consist of two LNG trains with a total nameplate capacity of 12.88 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to support the development of the Golfinho/Atum field located entirely within Offshore Area 1. The project, meanwhile, has successfully secured 11.1 MTPA of long-term LNG sales from key buyers in Asia and Europe, with the first cargo expected in 2024. Mozambique Area 1 will add total estimated proved reserves of approximately 140 million barrels of oil equivalent to PTTEP’s portfolio.

Designated as the “First Mover” by the Mozambique government, Area 1 will also be responsible for constructing support facilities to be shared by the adjacent Area 4 project, which will include the materials offloading facility and the LNG marine terminal. Works on the construction of a resettlement village, camp expansion, airstrip and the Palma-Afungi Highway are also progressing.

The project expects soon to issue notices to proceed under the terms of the previously executed engineering, construction, procurement and installation contracts.

Strategically located off the east coast of Africa, Mozambique Area 1 is among PTTEP’s key natural gas projects and reflects the company’s strategy to invest in new areas with competitive cost structure.

The NBTC will today put on sale three slots at the 700MHz spectrum at a price of Bt17.584 billion. Each slot features a 10MHz bandwidth. The licence term will be 15 years and payments for the licence is divided into 10 instalments.

The company that picks up a slot will start paying for it next October.

The NBTC will use the proceeds from the slot sales to help ease the financial burden of the digital TV broadcasters.

The sale of the 700MHz slots is related to the junta’s recent launch of relief measures to ease the financial burden of the three 900MHz telecom operators as well as digital TV broadcasters.

The three 900MHz operators are subsidiaries of Advanced Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communication (DTAC) and True Corp.

Under the junta relief measures, the NBTC will split the total upfront licence fee for the 900MHz spectrum of the three licence holders into total 10 instalments, giving them more time to make payments from the current four instalments.

However, the junta’s relief measures include a condition that makes it mandatory for any 900MHz licence holder taking up the relief measures to purchase a 700MHz spectrum slot from the NBTC.

If they decline to buy the slots, they will lose the longer instalment plan and would have to pay as per the original payment schedule.

According to the original schedule, AIS subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) and True Corp’s subsidiary TrueMove H Universal Communication (TUC) are scheduled to pay hefty final instalments of Bt59.574 billion and Bt60.218 billion, respectively, for their 900MHz licences in 2020.

DTAC subsidiary DTAC TriNet is due to pay its Bt30.024 billion final instalment for the 900MHz band in 2022.

Pattanapong Tansomboon, chairman of the Lao unit of Kasikornbank (KBank), said the Thai bank aimed to be a driving force for Asean economic growth, especially in Laos, which has seen rapid growth and thriving industrial sectors, as evidenced by rising purchasing power of Laotians who are seeking quality goods and services.

Healthcare business is one of the industries under the Lao government’s support as it aims to promote greater access to quality medical services on a par with international standards, in line with the country’s economic expansion, he said.

KBank Lao PDR realises that healthcare business, and chiefly hospitals, is an essential area in which Laos needs to improve its people’s quality of life, he added.

Therefore, Pattanapong explained, KBank Lao PDR is providing financial support to Bangkok Chain International (Lao) Co Ltd, under the BCH group which is a long-time business partner of KBank, for the construction of Kasemrad International Vientiane Hospital to provide medical services meeting international standards.

BCH currently operates leading private hospitals under four groups: World Medical Hospital, Kasemrad International Hospital, Kasemrad Hospital and Karunvej Hospital.

BCH has expanded its medical-service network to the Asean region in accordance with its target.

KBank is confident in the potential, experience and professionalism of the management and staff of BCH, and hopes that this overseas business expansion succeeds, the bank chairman said.

The business collaboration is also in line with KBank’s strategy of participating in the economic development of countries in Asean.

KBank Lao PDR has succeeded in expanding its SME business customer base, which is an area of KBank expertise.

Additionally, KBank manages to reach out to big business groups in Laos in both the public and private sectors, especially foreign investors from Japan, South Korea and, more importantly, Thailand, which are business partners of KBank, Pattanapong said.

Dr Chalerm Harnphanich, chairman of BCH and chief executive officer of Bangkok Chain International (Lao), said the construction of Kasemrad International Hospital Vientiane required an investment of around US$50 million (Bt1.56 billion).

The company is committed to offering advanced medical services under the Kasemrad International Hospital brand to ensure that general patients, both local consumers and foreign nationals working and travelling in Laos, receive quality medical services on a par with international standards, he added.

Bangkok Chain International (Lao) is a joint venture between BCH and a company in Lao PDR under the supervision of the country’s Health Ministry.

Kasemrad International Hospital Vientiane will have 254 beds and 38 examination rooms.