True Corporation Bolsters Northern Thailand Network Resilience Amid Severe Wildfire and PM2.5 Crisis

Brickinfo News Agency – True Corporation has announced a comprehensive emergency plan to fortify its mobile and fiber broadband infrastructure across Northern Thailand as the region faces a critical surge in wildfires and hazardous PM2.5 levels. With over 560,000 rai already scorched in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son this month, the telecommunications giant is deploying specialized engineering teams and hardware upgrades to prevent service disruptions, ensuring that residents and emergency responders remain connected despite the environmental threats to physical equipment.

The severity of the current situation is underscored by data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), which reported that between April 1 and 10, 2026, burned areas reached 319,192 rai in Chiang Mai and 243,318 rai in Mae Hong Son. These fires, combined with extreme heat, pose a direct risk to base stations, sensitive field equipment, and fiber optic lines. To mitigate these risks, True is transitioning its base station equipment to sealed enclosures with closed-loop cooling systems to prevent soot, dust, and corrosive pollutants from damaging internal electronics.

Mr. Khurrum Ashfaque, Chief Network Officer of True Corporation Public Company Limited, emphasized the urgency of the mission, stating, “Wildfires and PM2.5 highlight the need for networks to operate at a higher level of readiness during crises. True Corporation places strong emphasis on proactive monitoring, preparedness in high-risk areas, and disciplined network management to ensure customers remain connected when it matters most.”

The technical reinforcement includes a 100% upgrade of primary fiber routes across the northern regions, moving vulnerable ground-level cables to more secure paths. Additionally, the company has deployed point-to-point microwave backup systems in high-risk zones like Mae Hong Son to ensure that if a physical fiber line is severed by fire, connectivity can be maintained wirelessly between cell sites. True is also collaborating with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to utilize fiber routes along high-voltage transmission poles for enhanced redundancy.

Further measures to protect the 5G and 4G networks include the installation of additional emergency battery backups capable of sustaining operations for 2–4 hours during power outages. Maintenance frequency has been doubled, with technicians now performing checks every six months to replace filters and optimize thermal management in high-heat areas. Field engineering teams have also been expanded in wildfire-prone provinces, including Phrae, Nan, and Lampang, to provide rapid response to any physical damage to the infrastructure.