A MODIFIED MODEL OF ICT DEVELOPMENT INDEX (IDI) FOR THAILAND TO ACHIEVE THE ICT LEADER IN ASEAN

After the first allocation of spectrum in the 2.1 GHz band was successfully made in 2012, Thailand’s ICT technology has developed continuously, considered at the higher level compared with those of other ASEAN countries. In relation to this, the ITU has revealed the annual survey results regarding ICT-society indices or “Measuring the Information Society Report (MIS Report)” which is published annually. In this year, the ITU MIS report 2015 identified Thailand as one of a group of "most dynamic countries" that recorded above-average improvements in their IDI ranking over the past five years, supported mainly by improvement in mobile broadband penetration. The objective of this paper is to propose a modified model of ICT Development Index (IDI) to bring Thailand to be the ICT leader in ASEAN. This paper also presents a policy and strategic plan to foster Thailand’s ICT sector to move forward to higher level of ICT Development Index in achieving the first rank of IDI level in ASEAN within 2020.