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The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), the US and the Wi-Fi Alliance have discussed ways to utilise the 6GHz spectrum to drive Thailand’s digital economy.

The talks focused on three topics, with the first the result of tests of WiFi technology at Ramathibodi Hospital that used the full 6GHz band.

Late last year the Wi-Fi Alliance, some of its members, and the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, completed a pilot trial showcasing the value of full-band 6GHz WiFi in healthcare. The test was supported by the NBTC.

The testing revealed an increase in network data throughput of more than two times and a 400% reduction in latency when using full-band 6GHz compared with using only the lower part of the band.

According to the NBTC, this indicates the full band can efficiently serve virtual medical learning in a dense internet usage environment, as well as distance learning.

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a non-profit organisation that owns the WiFi trademark.

The second topic was an economic study estimating utilisation of the 6GHz spectrum could generate more than 1.8 trillion baht in value for the Thai economy by 2030.

The third issue was a potential trial of an Automated Frequency Coordination system to efficiently manage spectrum use in dense internet-use areas.

Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, NBTC chairman, said the commission will carefully consider all approaches regarding use of the 6GHz band to ensure the public interest is maximised.

The regulator is open to collaboration with all parties on spectrum development, he said.

The discussion included Dr Sarana, some NBTC commissioners, Catherine Spillman, minister counsellor at the US embassy in Thailand, and representatives from the Wi-Fi Alliance and the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, as well as global technology firms HPE Aruba, Meta and Cisco.

According to the NBTC, Ms Spillman said the US is proud to partner with the regulator to exchange knowledge and test new technologies to promote modern and secure connectivity in the region.

The Wi-Fi Alliance said the ecosystems for WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 equipment are now ready.

Thailand’s WiFi network operates on the 2400MHz-2483.5MHz, 5150MHz-5850MHz, and 5925-6425MHz bands, with the last one the lower part of the 6GHz spectrum.

The upper band of 6GHz is being tested for telecom service.

A source at the Digital Economy and Society Ministry who requested anonymity previously told the Bangkok Post the US said Thailand should fully open up its local telecom market as part of tariff negotiations between the nations.

The source said the US also asked Thailand to define the WiFi frequency standard here to include the upper band of 6GHz.

Soldiers intervened to prevent 11 Thais being lured across the border from Sa Kaeo to work for call-centre scammers in Cambodia.

The rescue operation was launched on Monday after the Aranyaprathet Special Task Unit received information from the eastern branch of the Immanuel Foundation Thailand.

The foundation said relatives of one of the lured victims had sought its help, Col Chainarong Kasi, commander of the special task unit, said on Tuesday. They said a member of the family was being smuggled across the border and was believed to have been lured into working for a scam syndicate in Cambodia.

The relatives had been in contact with the victim, who informed them that about ten other Thais were also waiting to cross the border.

The victim shared a GPS location that proved to be a house in village Moo 3 in tambon Fak Huai of Aranyaprathet district, Col Chainarong said.

The special task force immediately deployed troops to investigate the house, which was found to be owned by a man named Seksan Sukratok.

A search of the premises led to the discovery of 11 Thais, including the one whose relatives had sought help.

The soldiers secured the area, coordinating with local police, district authorities and the kamnan of tambon Fak Huai.

The 11 Thais were taken to Aranyaprathet police station for questioning.

The investigation was being extended to find those involved in the smuggling of the victims.

Thailand face off once again with Taiwan in a crucial Group D encounter of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers for the Saudi Arabia 2027 finals on Tuesday.

Thailand, who looked on the ropes after their 3-1 defeat to Turkmenistan on Matchday Two, rebounded in style against Taiwan with a 2-0 win and will expect another three points against the East Asian side despite playing away.

Thailand are top of the standings, sharing the same number of points with both Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan, with three matches remaining.

The War Elephants head coach Masatada Ishii told a pre-match press conference at Taipei Municipal Stadium that his men will be gunning for a victory in Tuesday’s battle.

“We’re facing the same opponents again — Taiwan. We won the first match, and our goal remains unchanged,” said the Japanese tactician.

“Whether we’re playing at home or away, the key is to fix our own shortcomings. If we don’t perform well on the road, it’s not just about the opponents — they’re not always the same team. They evolve. I’m working on correcting the areas where we still fall short.

“For this match, it’s hard to say how our playing style will differ. But based on the first game, we’ve identified what needs improvement and will aim to do better.

“Let’s see how things unfold once the match begins. As for Natthapong Sairiya, he’s been consistently solid in Thai League 1 play — his build-up play is strong, and he’s great at motivating and guiding his teammates.”

Thailand striker Teerasak Poeiphimai added: “We’ve been well-prepared since day one of camp. In this game, we’re determined to secure all three points.

“The team’s atmosphere has improved since the first match, where we earned a home win. We need to do it again — to bring joy to the fans and boost morale heading into the next game.

“Personally, I feel the pressure of being the lone striker, but my teammates have been supportive throughout. I’ll give it my all and fight for the win.”

Thailand, ranked 101st in the Fifa world rankings, will once again take the field as pre-match favourites against 173rd-ranked Taiwan at Taipei Municipal Stadium.

They are riding a tide of confidence after their victory in the third group match on Thursday night, which came courtesy of goals from substitute Seksan Ratree and captain Chanathip Songkrasin, putting the War Elephants back on track after a mixed start to the qualifiers.

Sri Lanka did Thailand a massive favour on Thursday night when they stunned Turkmenistan 1-0 at home with a second-half goal by Leon Manimeldura.

The South Asian side moved up to six points, while Turkmenistan lost their perfect record. Taiwan remain at the bottom of the table without any point.

The match between Thailand and Taiwan on Tuesday kicks off at 5.30pm (Thai time) and will be broadcast live on Thairath TV Channel (32), the BG SPORTS YouTube channel and TrueVisions Now.

A woman employee at a Pattaya go-go bar has given police a tourist’s bag she found containing 9,700 Australian dollars, hoping it could be returned to its owner.

Chommanat Sing-oat, 42, works at the Queen Club go-go bar. She handed the bag in to Pattaya police station at 8.06am on Monday, saying she found it in front of the bar in the morning after returning there from having a meal with colleagues.

Inside the bag there was an Australian passport and A$9,700 in cash – worth around 200,000 baht.

Ms Chommanat said she hoped police could find the owner and return the lost bag and its contents.

Security footage from the bar showed a tall foreign man wearing a black shirt, black shorts and with a tattoo on his left leg sitting in front of the bar for a while, then departing and leaving the bag behind.

The Bangkok condo market is expected to rebound in 2027, as sluggish conditions are likely to persist through next year and the expected general election, according to property consultancy Cushman and Wakefield Thailand.

Surachet Kongcheep, head of research at the consultancy, said condo developers will likely remain cautious heading into 2026, hoping a new government will restore economic confidence and revive homebuying sentiment.

“The condo market recovery will have to wait until 2027, as a general election in mid-2026 will keep market conditions largely unchanged from this year,” he said. “The economy will remain sluggish.”

The market slowed over the first nine months of this year, with new launches totalling 13,504 units, flat year-on-year. Total new supply is expected to reach 17,000 units by year-end, similar to last year, noted the firm.

Mr Surachet said developers are focusing on clearing unsold inventory, particularly completed projects ready for transfer. Tens of thousands of these unsold units remain in the market nationwide, with a combined value exceeding 100 billion baht.

“The greatest challenge for developers is buyers’ inability to secure mortgages,” he said. “Banks now assess not only individual applicants, but also their employers’ financial performance and even the repayment records of colleagues who are also bank customers.”

The condo market can no longer rely solely on domestic demand, as Thailand’s population is shrinking, noted Mr Surachet.

From 2026, Thais born before 1971 — the first year the country’s birth rate began to decline — will start entering retirement and are unlikely to purchase new homes.

“Developers are increasingly targeting foreign buyers, partnering or forming joint ventures with overseas agencies to tap markets such as China, hoping demand from Chinese buyers will rebound next year,” he said.

Sentiment among Chinese buyers has improved, as previous misconceptions about safety in Thailand have eased considerably, said Mr Surachet.

“Although some Chinese buyers shifted their focus to other countries this year, Thailand consistently ranks among their top choices, and is often No.1 when it comes to purchasing residential properties,” he said. “The main issue has been financial as China’s property market has yet to recover, but the situation is gradually improving.”

According to Cushman and Wakefield Thailand, new condo launches in Bangkok in the third quarter this year tallied 6,618 units, with average prices rising to 131,419 baht a square metre from 89,500 baht in the previous quarter.

Most of the new units were located along skytrain routes, while many developers opted for soft launches, releasing a limited number of floors for presale to gauge buyer interest before proceeding with official project launches.

“New condo projects this year are no longer focused on selling out during the launch period or achieving 60% sales within the first year,” said Mr Surachet. “Developers are shifting to long-term strategies that reflect more subdued market conditions.”

When Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pitched the idea of raising the retirement age for civil servants from 60 to 65 years old, the proposal sparked significant debate in Thai society — a society increasingly described as “aged”.

Academics have noted that to support a growing “silver economy” — a market for products, services and activities targeting people aged 50 and above — Thailand must improve infrastructure and job opportunities, especially for members of Generation X.

Gen X, born between the mid-1960s and early 1980s, now represents Thailand’s largest demographic group.

Nonarit Bisonyabut of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) noted that Thailand is on track to become a “super-aged society” within nine years, with over 28% of the population aged 60 and older.

While this poses challenges, it also creates opportunities for the silver economy, he said.

His study found that consumption among senior citizens reached 2.18 trillion baht in 2023 and is projected to rise to 3.5 trillion baht by 2033. Revenue generated by the elderly is also expected to increase from 640 billion baht in 2024 to 880 billion baht. The number of senior workers is forecast to reach 6.6 million, or 37% of the elderly population.

And yet there is another looming reality: centenarians, those aged over 100 years old, in Thailand are growing by the number, posing challenges to policymakers not only on how to deal with an aged society, but also a long-lived one, according to Nattapat Sarobol, a lecturer specialising in elder social welfare at the Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University.

“Research conducted by Thammasat University on centenarians and older has found that Thailand has over 40,000 centenarians, ranking fifth in the world,” she said.

“This number is expected to continue to increase. So, if Thai society continues to adhere to the 60-year retirement age, this will mean retirees will have a 40-year age gap, leading to a life without work. The question is, where will they get their livelihood?”

OLD AND WORKING

Earlier this year, the Institute for Population and Social Research released the Mahidol Population Gazette, revealing updated national demographics. Thailand’s total population is now 65.69 million, with 8.3 million people living in the capital.

Of that population, 41.75 million are part of the labour force, aged between 15 and 59. Another 14.45 million are aged 60-65, and 9.7 million are over 65.

Conversely, the number of young people (aged 0-21) is low, at only 15 million. Equally concerning is that the population of women of reproductive age (15-49) stands at about 15 million, while the birth rate is just 6.2 per 1,000 population — one of the lowest in the region.

Ms Nattapat said that within the next decade, the effects of an ageing society will become much more evident as a large number of Gen X workers “will inevitably be drawn back into the workforce due to a looming labour shortage”.

“Even though many are now opting for early retirement due to the poor economy, they will likely return to work to fill growing vacancies.”

However, the transition back into the workforce will be challenging, she said. Seniors may face bad attitudes from their younger colleagues, she added.

Ms Nattapat then urged the government to invest in infrastructure and create senior-friendly workplaces. She emphasised the need to remove age-based barriers to employment and provide training programmes or even access to funding.

She also warned that a national retirement policy limited to Thailand’s 1.75 million civil servants would be ineffective if it ignores the country’s 18 million private-sector employees.

LONGER EMPLOYMENT

Mr Nonarit of TDRI said raising the retirement age is a common response in developed countries with healthier ageing populations.

However, the concept is still relatively new in Thailand and will require public understanding and carefully planned policies, he said.

He pointed out that the government has limited capacity to support the elderly, with social welfare payments currently below 1,000 baht per month.

“It’s essential that older citizens can generate income throughout their lives,” he said.

However, many workers aged 50 and above voluntarily leave the workforce, relying on final payments from the Social Security Office. Much of this money is invested — often unsuccessfully — and when they attempt to re-enter the job market, they face diminished compensation and limited opportunities.

“The key challenge is how to retain them in the workforce longer,” Mr Nonarit said. “We must prioritise keeping them in the system. The government should offer incentives to encourage longer employment.”

He cited Singapore’s national “Reemployment” policy, which allows eligible retirees to continue working and provides a dedicated fund for upskilling and reskilling older workers for new roles.

A senior government official, who spoke anonymously, said the retirement age increase is not a major issue in itself, since many older workers remain healthy. The real problem is that the current system does little to support them, the official said.

“Many can’t advance in their careers because of corruption and favouritism in state agencies,” the official said. “They no longer have family obligations and are happy to leave a broken system. If we want to retain them, the workplace must be reformed to promote transparency and good governance.”

Thailand hopes to complete free trade agreement (FTA) talks with South Korea by the end of this year, according to Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun.

An FTA deal with South Korea would be a notable “first” for Ms Suphajee, who will serve only a short tenure in the commerce portfolio before the promised general election next year.

Thai and South Korean trade officials have been negotiating for an FTA between the two countries since 2004, and are now in the final stages of the talks.

‘We think we can wrap up negotiations with South Korea by the end of this year,’ Ms Suphajee said in an interview with The Standard released on Monday.

She said credit should go to officials of the Department of Trade Negotiations for their efforts toward a trade pact with the East Asia country.

South Korea will host a series of meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation from Oct 26-Nov 1 in Gyeongju city near Busan.

Ms Suphajee will take part in the trade ministers meeting, and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will join other leaders at the summit.

‘We plan a joint declaration (with South Korea) to underline our determination for a conclusion (of the FTA),’ the minister said.

The declaration would be made on the sidelines of the Apec meeting. But she did not say whether it would be announced by the trade ministers or leaders of the two countries.

Two-way trade was worth US$14.7 billion in 2023 in favour of South Korea.

An FTA needs parliamentary approval after its conclusion.

Ms Suphajee said she also hoped to see progress in talks on an FTA with the European Union by using the European Free Trade Association (Efta) accord as a stepping stone for Thailand and EU members to accelerate talks.

Thailand signed on to Efta in January and this is expected to become effective in a year.

The European countries in the pact are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. They are not EU members but have some form of cooperation with the EU, including free movement as they are included in the Schengen area.

‘The EU is looking for new markets and partners due to pressure from US reciprocal tariffs and geopolitical factors,’ the commerce minister said. Thailand could tap the advantages to seal a trade pact with the bloc.

A 14-year-old girl whose right hand was severed by a knife in a brutal gang attack in Chiang Mai last month has returned home after successful reattachment surgery.

The attack took place in Muang Chiang Mai district on Sept 16, when a gang seriously injured three students, including the girl who lost her hand.

Two days later, police arrested and charged 15 suspects. One of them, a Myanmar national, confessed they had mistaken the girl for their male target as she was wearing a hoodie.

The girl was rushed to the Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital of Chiang Mai University. She was seriously weakened by blood loss from her wound.

However, after nearly 20 hours of surgery, her hand was successfully reattached. Praise poured in on social media for the team of surgeons for their specialist skills.

A medical report revealed that the operation had restored 90% of the important parts of the hand, including 21 tendons, six nerves, an artery and three veins. The patient had extensive flap motoring treatment during her stay at the hospital.

Flap surgery involves moving a section of healthy tissue from a donor site to repair a wound. A flap carries its own blood supply and may include skin, fat, muscle and nerves. ‘Motoring’ refers to the goal of restoring motor function, or muscle movement, to the hand.

On Tuesday there was more good news when doctors reported that that girl had recovered well and had been discharged from the hospital on Friday after receiving treatment for 24 days.

‘The reattached hand has good blood circulation, with no signs of tissue death or infection,’ Dr Narain Chotirosniramit, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, said in a statement. ‘The wound is dry and the patient has entered the rehabilitation phase through therapy.’

She was able to move some finger joints though full sensation has not yet returned, which is normal at the early stage of the recovery process.

The girl’s mental health has also improved under close care of child psychiatrists, Dr Narain said.

The Korean Cultural Center in Thailand is hosting a K-book exhibition to celebrate Hangeul (Korean alphabet) Proclamation Day, which falls on Oct 9 each year. The Center has prepared various events such as a Book Talk with authors, translation contest and music concerts, which will run until early next year.

This exhibition is a part of the “2025 K-Book Overseas Promotion And Exchange Event”, co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea. It mainly focuses on Korean literature and children picture books which have gained attention worldwide. Korean children’s books are also well-known in Thailand.

The books featured in the exhibition were selected in collaboration with seven book publishers in Thailand — Amarinbooks, Lumi, Piccolo, Prism, Page, Nanmeebooks and SandClock Books. These books are those that were particularly loved by Thai readers this year and are also expected to attract interest in the near future.

On Oct 28, the Center will invite author Park Sang-young to talk about Korean literature. His short story collection Love In The Big City has been nominated for various international literary awards, including the International Booker Prize, the Dublin Literary Award, the Prix Médicis Award for foreign literature, and the Émile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature. It has also been translated and published in 25 countries in 18 languages, including English, French, German and Thai. Based on this work, a movie and series with the same title was released through Netflix in 2024. Following a meeting with fourth-year students from Chulalongkorn University’s Korean Language Department on Oct 28, Park will engage with readers in a book talk at 6pm. Through the author’s creative activities and experiences, the event is expected to be a meaningful opportunity to examine the current state of Korean literature and contemplate the role and future of literature in this “age of no-reading”.

In November, the Center will host a Korean literature translation contest for Korean language majors in Thailand. Students will compete in translating Kim Young-jin’s children’s book Seollal (Lunar New Year’s Day). Kim has published numerous picture books in Thailand, including Heart-Pounding Convenience Store and Dad’s Strange Journey Home From Work. Seollal has not yet been published in Thailand, but with the permission of the copyright holder and publisher (Gilbut Kid), the Center has been granted the opportunity to present it for the first time.

In addition, in December, there will be an event themed “Literature Meets Classical Music” where Korean artists will be invited to an exhibition space to perform Korean songs based on classical music and poetry from Korean literary works.

Lee Sun-ju, the director of the Center, said: “Hangeul Proclamation Day on Oct 9 commemorates King Sejong’s promulgation of Hangeul in 1446. It’s especially meaningful that the Center launched this exhibition ahead of the occasion, providing a space where Thai people can read, watch and discuss Korean books created in Hangeul. The Center has prepared a variety of events each month throughout the exhibition period, including a book talk, a translation contest, and literature-themed concerts. I hope you’ll visit the Korean Cultural Center for a special experience.”

Expanding its footprint across Southeast Asia, Chememan Public Company Limited (CMAN) has entered into agreements to acquire a 60% equity stake in PT Bukit Bunea (BB), a subsidiary of Indonesia’s PT Citatah Tbk (CTTH). The acquisition, valued at USD 10.5 million (approximately THB 336 million), will be executed through the purchase of newly issued shares under a Conditional Shares Subscription Agreement (CSSA) and a Shareholders’ Agreement (SHA) with CTTH and its founder, Mr Taufik Johannes. The strategic investment remains subject to customary conditions precedent and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2026.

The agreements were signed on 6 October 2025 at CMAN’s offices by Mr Taufik Johannes (second right), President Director of CTTH; Ms Tiffany Johanes (right), President Director of BB; M.L. Chandchutha Chandratat (second left), Chairman; and Mr Adisak Lowjun (left), Chief Executive Officer of CMAN.

BB has secured a long-term, high-quality limestone mining concession in Sulawesi, Indonesia, covering 141 acres, or 353 rai. CTTH’s core business is the quarrying and manufacturing of marble, with more than 33 years of experience operating in Sulawesi. Under this strategic partnership, CMAN and CTTH have agreed a medium-term plan to develop a large-scale mine and a major facility with up to 500,000 tonnes of annual lime production capacity, beginning with a first phase of 200,000 tonnes. The total estimated investment for the first phase is USD 25-30 million, while the full-scale 500,000-tonne capacity is expected to exceed USD 60 million.

This strategic partnership marks the first in a series of major expansion moves by CMAN to strengthen its regional market presence. Indonesia represents a significant and growing market for lime products, with annual demand exceeding 3 million tonnes, nearly 1 million tonnes of which is imported. The combination of a high-quality limestone concession, competitive coal costs, Sulawesi’s strategic location, and world-class production technologies provides CMAN with a long-term competitive advantage to serve both domestic and international markets. Furthermore, this investment aligns with the Indonesian government’s policy to promote downstream mining industries and reduce the nation’s reliance on imports.

‘CMAN has always focused on developing a robust, high-quality, and diversified network of lime supply to serve our growing base of customers across the Asia-Pacific region. We are very excited to produce and sell lime products in Indonesia, which will become our fifth country of operations after Thailand, Australia, Vietnam, and India,’ said Mr Adisak Lowjun, Chief Executive Officer of CMAN. ‘We sincerely thank CTTH and the Johannes family for their professionalism and commitment during our discussions and look forward to a successful and profitable future together. This is just the first chapter of what should be a great story for all of us.’