7 September 2018 – U-tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport is partnering AIS to deploy digital technology, to develop a Smart Terminal supporting new developments in transportation. It will boost this regional airport’s development into a modern international commercial airport before construction of the third terminal building is completed. In the future, U-tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport will be fully linked to function as the third airport serving Bangkok. Passengers and cargo will flow easily between it and both Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi Airports as part of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project, which is an important strategic plan of the Thailand 4.0 policy.

U-tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport entrusted AIS to join them in developing a digital solution to make Terminal 2 into a Smart Terminal. The first phase of the project has 2 parts: 1) The U-Tapao application to provide superior customer service – the application will contain comprehensive information about flights and the airport including the flight status list, information about transit to and from the airport, parking, etc. The floor plans showing the location of information desks are special because they make use of Augmented Reality (AR) technology to direct passengers around the airport. This is the first time passengers will have this added experience and convenience. 2) Video Analytics technology to enhance terminal management – closed circuit cameras all around the building will be linked to an artificial intelligence system to analyze and process big data including video data. It will feature Face Recognition ability to improve safety in the case of suspicious people or materials or monitoring VIPs. Heat Map Analytics functions will help make safety, crowd control and foot traffic control within the airport more efficient.

Rear Admiral Lerchai Sri-iamkul, Director of U-tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport, said, “We are very happy to join the private sector in bringing in digital technology to raise the standard of our services and to modernize Terminal 2 into a Smart Terminal, in compliance with the government’s policy to develop the digital economy and digital society. Part of the plan is to make U-tapao Airport a third commercial airport serving Bangkok. This will boost growth in the Eastern Economic Corridor, as we are a regional aviation hub and goods and cargo can flow easily between U-tapao, Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports.”

U-tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport joined Advanced Wireless Network Company Limited, a member of the AIS group, which is Thailand’s number one mobile phone service provider, and a digital service leader, to develop a mobile application for the airport and a video analytics system, with the associated computer and communications systems for these services, in the Terminal 2 building. The major objective of the project is to expand the airport’s service capabilities with the introduction of more digital technology to provide greater convenience and excellent experience for customers. It will also enable the airport to upgrade its security system and the efficiency of its management system.

Yongsit Rojsirikul, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at AIS, said, “As a Digital Life Service Provider, AIS not only wants to provide the best possible communications services to Thai people, but also pays attention to developing and applying digital technology to the utmost of our potential in order to support national resilience. AIS is delighted to work on developing these systems at U-tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport for implementation in the fourth quarter of this year. Terminal 2 will soon be a Smart Terminal, and it will be a model for the development of other airports in the future.”

Mr Rojsirikul continued, “I believe the Eastern Economic Corridor will be a major step in the transformation of the national economy. It will require the cooperation of government and private sector entities, and the ordinary people, so that this major development can drive sustainable economic growth. AIS would like to express its gratitude for U-tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport trusting us to have a part in deploying digital technology to level up services and management at Terminal 2.”