Technological Migration: The Case of Thai Digital Terrestrial Television

This study analyses the business strategies of entrepreneurs during a technological transition. The particular technological transition is the switch from analogue to digital TV in Thailand. The estimated net present values of the broadcasting operators’ net profit over a 15-year license period indicate that a long transition period reduces the benefit from upgrading to a better technology. The incumbents would like to join the technological migration from day one. The faster the transition process, the higher the new platform is worth in present value. The government should terminate the old platform as soon as possible and stimulate a rapid transition.