Dr. Thaweesak "Hugh" Koanantakool Director of National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre http://www.nectec.or.th

Presenting paper on: National ICT Policies in Thailand

6th Floor, NSTDA Building
73/1 Rama VI Rd.
Ratchathewee, Phaya Thai
Bangkok. Thailand
htk@nectec.or.th or personal homepage at http://www.nectec.or.th/users/htk/

Since 1994, Dr. Thaweesak "Hugh" Koanantakool became Deputy Director of NECTEC as well as leading the Network/Software Technology labs. Thaweesak introduced the Internet into Thailand and set up the largest academic and research network known as ThaiSarn under NECTEC. He later co-founded the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) owned by Thai government in 1995. The ISP, Internet Thailand Company Limited, at present is the largest ISP in Thailand, has 45% market share (by IP numbers managed).

In 1996-1997, Thaweesak led Thailand's Information Superhighway testbed Project funded by NECTEC. The project was a major testbed in Thailand using ATM switches for both local area and wide-areas. In August 1998, Thaweesak was appointed the Director of NECTEC.

Dr.Thaweesak received his Bachelor and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College of Science and Technology, London University. He had a number of industrial contracts in the UK before he came back to Thailand to start his government service career in 1981. He taught in Electrical Engineering with the Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University. In 1985, he moved to Bangkok Thammasat University and was appointed Associate Director of the Information processing Institute for Education and Development.