True and ZTE Build Thailand’s First FTTR Community

• True and ZTE have collaborated to create an industry-leading all-optical Wi-Fi solution for the Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket, Thailand
• ZTE’s innovative FTTR solution has a wide range of applications in traditional home scenarios and enterprise settings such as hotels and retail establishments
• True Online’s 2 Gbps bandwidth packages, coupled with ZTE’s FTTR solution, have transformed the Internet experience offered to guests at Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket

Thailand, a tropical country in Southeast Asia, hosts approximately 14.27 million fixed broadband (FBB) users, boasting a household penetration of  around 58.96%.  Notably, 95% of these users rely on fiber to the home (FTTH) technology. True Corporation (True for short), as Thailand’s largest fixed-network and video operator, is dedicated to leveraging cutting-edge technologies and providing appealing service packages. This dedication is geared towards enhancing market competitiveness and elevating user satisfaction.

Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket stands as a high-end serviced-apartment-style community meticulously crafted by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts in Thailand. After years of operation, the network infrastructure of accommodation had become outdated, failing to cater to the evolving Wi-Fi usage needs of its guests. Recognizing the imperative for an upgraded solution, True and ZTE joined forces during the refurbishment of the Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket. This collaboration resulted in the development of an industry-leading, all-optical Wi-Fi solution tailored to meet the specific needs of Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket.

Wi-Fi: A Critical Pain Point Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket Urgently Needs to Address in Operations

With the widespread adoption of smart home devices and the rapid development of services such as high-definition video and gaming, the very high-speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) 100 Mbps bandwidth access solution used by Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket was no longer able to meet the high-speed Internet needs of its guests. This growing demand for network services poses greater challenges for hotel network infrastructure, necessitating urgent upgrades to provide faster and more stable Internet connections.

The VDSL solution involved sharing one Wi-Fi gateway for every 2–3 rooms, resulting in poor Wi-Fi coverage and low bandwidth—the actual bandwidth accessed by guests was less than 10 Mbps. Guests frequently reported Wi-Fi connectivity failures and unstable Wi-Fi connections, which degraded the user experience and harmed the premium image of the hotel.

After astutely identifying Wi-Fi as a pain point of Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket, True worked with ZTE to hold discussions with the customer about the latest fiber to the room (FTTR) all-optical networking solution in the industry, which would deliver gigabit bandwidth to every room. The solution gained high praise from Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket, and the three parties agreed to replace its existing VDSL solution with True Online’s broadband access service and ZTE’s FTTR solution when Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket officially reopens after the refurbishment. This proactive approach would address the low bandwidth and poor Wi-Fi coverage in the guests rooms, providing guests with fast and stable Internet service. Consequently, it enhances the guests’ stay experience and elevates Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket’s high-end image.

FTTR All-Optical Networking Solution

Before the Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket project, True Online had already started large-scale deployment of dual-band Wi-Fi 6 optical network terminals (ONTs) and mesh access points (APs) to ensure its competitiveness in bandwidth and coverage. To maintain its leading position in the Thai operator market, True Online actively conducted FTTR network trials with ZTE and was very satisfied with the trial results. ZTE’s innovative FTTR solution has a wide range of applications in traditional home scenarios and enterprise settings such as hotels and retail establishments. In light of the building structure, the three parties decided to deploy one main ONT and 26 room ONTs on each floor, ensuring that every room had an independent room ONT. The deployment locations of the FTTR devices were meticulously selected by ZTE engineers to guarantee full Wi-Fi signal strength in every corner of the rooms. Leveraging the high-bandwidth capability of the FTTR devices, True Online provided 2 Gbps high-speed packages to boost the Internet experience and service satisfaction of guests significantly.

With the ZTE FTTR solution, Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket achieved its goal of offering high bandwidth and premium Wi-Fi. The deployed solution has four highlight features: gigabit-plus bandwidth and superfast services, full coverage and no dead zones, smart roaming and seamless handover, as well as large space and multiple connections.

• Gigabit-plus bandwidth and superfast services: The solution employs a combination of optical fiber and Wi-Fi 6 technology to remove the performance constraints of the traditional Ethernet cable and prevent speed degradation, ensuring smooth gaming, video streaming, and conferencing experiences.
• Full coverage and no dead zones: Fiber extends from the information box to every room to implement whole-home Wi-Fi coverage. The high data rates and strong anti-interference capabilities of the solution ensure that every corner of the home enjoys full signal strength.
• Smart roaming and seamless handover: An in-house smart roaming algorithm enables millisecond-level imperceptible roaming handover without disruptions as guests move about in the hotel building.
• Large space and multiple connections: Each floor has a full-coverage network comprising up to 26 Wi-Fi hotspots and connecting a maximum of 256 smart devices.

Creating a New All-Optical Hotel Experience

True Online’s 2 Gbps bandwidth packages, coupled with ZTE’s FTTR solution, have transformed the Internet experience offered to guests at Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket. Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket has expressed great satisfaction with the deployment and plans to deepen collaboration with True and ZTE to further enhance hotel network technology and provide its guests with a better service experience.

True Online’s  FTTR service launched in Thailand has garnered significant industry attention due to its versatile applications, marking it as a new growth area for the operator. As the leader in Thailand’s FBB market, True is committed to strengthening its collaboration with ZTE in exploring new technologies and solutions, expecting to bring the Thai people an even more dynamic and enriching digital life experience. This innovative service has sparked excitement among consumers and industry experts alike, positioning True as a pioneer in delivering cutting-edge telecom solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of the Thai market.