Mitihoon – “Ban Laosu Nok, Village No. 8, Pong Don Subdistrict, Chae Hom District, Lampang Province, needs a True mobile phone signal for equal access to communication, education, and use during emergencies. We kindly ask for help in coordinating this.” This is a short-handwritten message on an old calendar page, carrying behind it the hopes of an entire village
For the True team, the message was far too meaningful to ignore. It became the starting point of an important mission: bringing a mobile network into an area long seen as remote, to deliver a “signal that matters”—one that connects the people of this village to equal opportunities.
Ban Laosu Nok: A Village Hidden Among the Hills
Many people may have never heard of Ban Laosu Nok, a small community nestled high in the mountains amid forests in Chae Hom District, Lampang Province. Although it lies only a few dozen kilometers from the city, the journey is anything but easy. The winding road alternates between paved and dirt sections, with visible traces of landslides along the way. Traveling to the village can take several hours.
Surrounded by steep hills, the village is quiet and breathtakingly beautiful. Yet this very geography has long been a major barrier, blocking communication signals from nearby areas.
For decades, the village had no mobile phone coverage. Nearly 100 residents, from young children and students to adults and the elderly, lived without the ability to stay constantly connected to the outside world like most people do today.
A Life Spent Searching for a Signal
“When we communicate within the village, we either shout to one another or use the village loudspeaker system. But if we want to call someone outside, we have to ride a motorcycle about two kilometers before we can get a mobile signal,” said Somchai Phongthanwanlai, a resident of Ban Laosu Nok, as he began to describe life here.
“On days of heavy rain, when landslides occur and large vehicles can’t get through, if we want to ask for help to bring in a tractor to clear the road, we can’t make the call from home. When someone falls ill, contacting the hospital is difficult. Even government announcements—we have to wait for someone to come and tell us.”
t’s not only daily living that’s affected; people’s livelihoods and the education of the children are impacted as well.
“Most of us grow coffee for a living. When we need to contact buyers, we have to rush out to make a call and then come back. Prices change, but buyers can’t call us. Many times, we miss sales or have to sell at a loss. As for the children, they can only search for information when they’re at school. During COVID, when classes went online, our kids had to stay in other villages,” Somchai explained.
After trying many ways to seek help, the villagers decided to use what they had: an old calendar. They flipped it over and used the blank back as a makeshift sign, writing their heartfelt message. The children held the sign while a photo was taken, which elders from a neighboring village then posted and shared on social media.
A challenging mission that must be accomplished
The photo of the children and their message traveled far, eventually reaching senior executives, including Sigve Brekke, Group Chief Executive Officer, True Corporation and from there to True’s nationwide network team—launching what would become a truly challenging mission.
“When we looked into the details of the area, we knew right away this wouldn’t be easy,” said Thongchai Kwanphut, Head of Network Development and Field Operations at True Corporation, recalling the moment he received the assignment. “We were aware of many limitations, but that message made us think this had to be done. It wasn’t just about enabling communication. I also thought about disasters. If something happened, this village wouldn’t receive official alerts or Cell Broadcast warnings from authorities.”
After surveying the area and gathering data, True teams from multiple functions worked together urgently.
“The key to this project was identifying an installation point that could deliver signal coverage across the entire village. The frequency needed to be 900 megahertz, a low-band spectrum with strong area coverage performance, suitable for both voice calls and data usage,” said Rungroj Pongsriwat from the Northern RAN Planning & Optimization team at True Corporation, describing the work.
Once the plan was ready, the field teams moved in, facing multiple on-site challenges. Seri Songchaikul, from the Northern Regional Network Rollout and Operation team at True Corporation, who oversaw the installation, said: “The first challenge was the difficult access route. Transporting equipment required highly skilled personnel. Another issue was frequent power outages in remote areas, so we added backup batteries to ensure the community could continue using the signal even when the power goes out.”
The First Signal That Truly Matters
On 16 January 2026, True’s first signal reached and fully covered Ban Laosu Nok. What changed was not just the sound of mobile phones ringing in the village or the clarity of voices on the other end of the line. What truly changed were opportunities and equality, proof that remoteness no longer has to be an obstacle to a better quality of life.
“From now on, our children and grandchildren who go to school or work in the city will be able to call their parents and stay in touch with relatives at any time, without constantly worrying about one another. The children now have internet access to search for knowledge, and government news can reach us much faster. Making a living, selling our coffee, will also be easier, as we can contact buyers more conveniently. And in emergencies or when someone falls ill, we can immediately call the hospital. Today, I’m truly happy that our village finally has a mobile signal that will genuinely improve the lives of everyone here,” Somchai said with a smile.
Because a Meaningful Signal Is One That that Connects People’s Lives
The atmosphere in Ban Laosu Nok Village today is filled with smiles, because communicating with the outside world is no longer a difficult task.
For the True team, this mission was more than just expanding network coverage into a remote area. It was about witnessing real change in people’s lives and creating greater equality in society through a network built with commitment and purpose, values that everyone involved takes pride in.
“Today, everyone on the True team is incredibly happy to have brought mobile connectivity to the people of Ban Laosu Nok. Beyond convenient communication, it represents the opportunity for them to access various aspects of life on an equal footing, something we at True are truly proud of,” Thongchai concluded on behalf of the entire True team.
ติดตามช่องทางมิติหุ้นเพื่อรับข่าวสารตลาดทุนได้ตามลิงค์ด้านล่าง
Web : https://www.mitihoon.com/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/mitihoon
Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@mitihoonofficial7770
Tiktok : www.tiktok.com/@mitihoon
