Following Bill Gates' post featuring Bangkok's tangled overhead communication wires, the government has been spurred into action. 

 

On June 29, a team led by Krissada Boonraj, permanent secretary of Interior Ministry, signed a memorendum of understanding promising to complete a long-delayed scheme to have the wires moved underground.

 

Present at the signing were major representatives from telecoms industries including the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) and government telecom company TOT, as well as the Royal Thai Police.

 

According to Somchai Rojrungwasinkul, the Governor of the MEA, plans to re-route the unsightly wires go right back to 1987, when work was completed in several major areas: Silom, Phayathai, Phaholyothin, Lumphini, Phathumwan and Sukhumvit.

 

Now though, the new MOU has rolled out a 10-year plan (2016-2025) for areas that include Chitlada, Pathumwan, the rest of Phayathai, Chong Nonsi, Rama 3 Road and Ratchadaphisek-Rama 9 Road, with a total B48,700 billion budget.

 

The internet and phone wires of TOT will also be re-routed along with those of the MEA, said TOT's managing director, Monchai Nhoosung. 

 

The action comes following Microsoft founder Bill Gates' post on his blog, Gates Notes, and Facebook page which drew light on the dangerous wiring situation in many developing nations around the world. “Due to faulty infrastructure, many urban areas suffer from frequent blackouts and power cuts, and the electrical grid often doesn’t serve the people who need it most.” he wrote.

 

“I’ve visited many cities filled with tangled wires such as those in this photo from Thailand, where people have illegally tapped into the grid on their own to get the power they need—at great personal risk.” 

 

Gates’ comments triggered crontroversy here in Thailand, where netizens pointed to the fact that the wires shown in the picture are low-voltage internet and telephone lines, rather than electrical supply lines from the national grid.