Rapid Assessment for Resilient Recovery and ... - GFDRR

damaged cell sites were in the provinces of Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Ayuthaya and in
Bangkok. The sites were either impacted directly by the floodwater or could not operate due
to temporary power cuts. With the limited information at hand, the assessment assumed
that half of the base stations that were not operational as of 1 November 2011 were flood
damaged, and the other half were not operational because of cuts to electricity supplies
due to the floods, and that the damaged cell sites are split equally between 2G cell sites
and 3G cell sites. The estimated damage to cellular communications, which include the
damaged cell sites, amounted to THB 280.92 million.
Sub-sector / Component Public Private Total
Land-based communications
Leased line data network
Voice data landline
Cellular communications
Transmission systems
Broadcasting
TV and radio broadcasting
Community radio broadcasting
Postal services
Postal installations
TOTAL
125.19
188.37
57.97
-
135.00
506.53
41.98
386.78
280.92
24.75
48.67
-
783.10
167.17
575.15
280.92
82.72
48.67
135.00
1,289.63
Table 45: Telecommunications
sector – Damage in
Thai baht, millions
It should be noted that figures of damage and losses provided in this assessment were
based on information provided by the public (CAT, TOT) and private (TRUE) telecommunications
service providers. It is important to also note that the information on damage and
losses of other major private mobile operators (AIS, DTAC) was not available at the time of
the assessment and that many provinces, including the densely populated ones
neighboring Bangkok, are still flooded. Extrapolations were made based on the market
share information (AIS, DTAC, and TRUE: 43.5, 30.51 and 24 percent respectively) and
information provided by the NBTC to estimate total damage in the telecommunications
sector in the 26 flood-affected provinces.
The estimated damage to the broadcasting sub-sector, which includes television and radio
broadcasting, as well as community radio, amounted to THB 131.39 million. The figures of
damage and losses in the broadcasting sub-sector were based on information provided by
public service providers (TV Channel 9, Channel 11). The floods inflicted damage to
buildings, recording and broadcasting and other electrical equipment as well as transmission
systems. The information on damage to other major private broadcasting operators
was not available at the time of the assessment. The information collected in Nakhon
Sawan, where one third of community radio stations were affected by floods and ceased
operations for two months on average, was used as reference to estimate damage to
community radio in the 26 flood-affected provinces.
Postal services were also affected by the floods. Thailand Post reported that damage was
concentrated in eight severely flooded provinces (Bangkok, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani,
Nonthaburi, Nakhon Sawan, Ayuthaya, Nakhon Phatom and Samut Sakhon) with a total
of 77 post offices damaged. Estimated damage to the postal services sub-sector, which
include mainly damage incurred to buildings, counter service sets and equipment of
Thailand Post, amounted to THB 135 million.
130 THAI FLOOD 2011 RAPID ASSESSMENT FOR RESILIENT RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION PLANNING