Pichet Durongkaveroj, Thailand’s minister of Digital Economy and Society, has indicated that the government plans to extend low-cost broadband access to every village in Thailand by end-2018. According to Mobile World Live Asia, the pledge was made during the minister’s keynote speech at the Digital Societies Policy Forum in Bangkok, and equates to 69,866 villages. The bulk of the activity will occur in areas where there is no commercial potential for private companies to roll out networks. As per previously revealed targets, the Thai government expects to deliver internet service to 24,700 villages by end-2017, with a minimum speed of 30Mbps. Pilot projects are said to be underway in 99 villages across 13 provinces.