Despite substantial public investment in Thailand’s Universal Service Obligation (USO) policy, a persistent gap remains between broadband availability and actual household adoption in rural areas. While physical networks have expanded, household-level subscriptions and regular usage continue to lag, indicating that “access” alone does not guarantee “inclusion”. This study investigates how Thailand can reorient its USO policy from a traditional coverage centric approach toward a "Meaningful Connectivity" framework. The research adopts a policy-oriented mixed-methods approach. It combines a systematic review of meaningful connectivity frameworks with an analysis of Thai national regulator data. This establishes a conceptual link between fixed broadband adoption and four key dimensions: quality of service, affordability, reliability, and regularity of use. The findings reveal that expanding coverage alone is insufficient to bridge the digital divide. Rural adoption is heavily constrained by affordability barriers, and a lack of alignment between technology deployment and user needs. Evidence indicates that rural households are significantly more likely to adopt fixed broadband when service quality meets specific performance thresholds regarding speed, stability, and latency. Without reliable performance, infrastructure remains underutilized and cannot support socio-economic activities such as online learning, telemedicine, or digital financial services. In conclusion, Thailand’s USO framework must transition toward an adoption-oriented model that integrates quality of service, affordability, and usability into core objectives and funding mechanisms. Digital literacy initiatives and locally relevant applications are essential to transform access into sustained demand. The study will bridge the "missing link" between universal access and meaningful connectivity, ensuring that development is truly inclusive.

Authors:
Supitrada Heranakaraoran, The Office of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Thailand

About the Presenter(s)
Ms. Supitrada Heranakaraoran is currently working with the position of Mid Level Policy and Planning Officer International Issues and Digital Trade Related division at the Office of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (Thailand)

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/supitrada-heranakaraoran-949599121

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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