Betong is the southernmost location in Thailand, located at Southern Yala province, next to Malaysia border (Perak state). The nearest town from Betong, Thailand are Pengkalan Hulu, Perak (15km) and Baling, Kedah (26km).
Among all deeper Southern Thailand provinces (excluding Phuket, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Phatthalung, Trang, Surat Thani and Ranong), Satun, Songkhla (Hat Yai and Danok), Sungai Golok and Betong have much of tourism values.
Although Betong is a district in Yala province, but it has more tourist economy value than Yala's capital town in Amphoe Mueang Yala, the distance from Yala capital to Betong is 130km.
In Yala, the nearest airport was Hat Yai, but the distance is 133km. From Betong to Hat Yai, it is 260km.
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Betong will have brand new airport and Betong International Airport is expected to be opened on June 2020. According to Bangkok Post, three airlines companies such as Nok Air, Bangkok Airways and Malaysia's Firefly are interested in flying to Betong, Thailand.
Congratulations to Thailand for having Betong International Airport. In my opinion, this will benefit economy activities in Betong, Thailand. In addition, Betong International Airport also can benefit the economy of bordering areas in Malaysia such as Pengkalan Hulu, Perak and Baling, Kedah.
Before launching of Betong International Airport, Betong, Pengkalan Hulu, Baling and Gerik residents who travel Hat Yai must go through dangerous and curvy road in Yala. According to my friend who was used to travel from Betong to Hat Yai/Yala, the road is more dangerous than Cameron Highlands road.
From Betong to Hat Yai, it is 260km distance if go via Yala road, but it is 215km distance if enter Malaysia border via Baling and Alor Setar. So, Betong people travels Hat Yai by passing through Baling and Alor Setar is considered international departures, so passport is required, meanwhile if go by passing through Yala, Raman and Bannang Sata is domestic, but the road is curvy and dangerous.
With Betong International Airport, if Malaysia's Gerik, Pengkalan Hulu and Baling people who want to travel Bangkok, Hat Yai, other Thailand territories or other countries, they don't need to go to Penang International Airport or KLIA and this will save traveling time.
In conjunction with Betong International Airport, actually Betong can deserve more of its radio stations. Currently, by excluding Yala radio stations where are not receivable in Betong district, Betong has only two local radio stations such as Radio Thailand Betong FM 93.0MHz and low power Love FM 99.5MHz, but the transmission of Love FM 99.5MHz is strictly for Betong town.
Besides that, six Malaysia radio stations from RTM are available in Betong, Thailand such as:
1. Radio Klasik FM 88.7MHz
2. Nasional FM 89.7MHz
3. Kedah FM 90.5MHz
4. Traxx FM 91.7MHz
5. Ai FM 92.5MHz
6. Minnal FM 93.3MHz
All are transmitted from Bukit Palong, Baling, Kedah, Malaysia. In addition, there are only few Malaysia radio stations from Gunung Jerai receivable in Betong such as 988 FM 96.1MHz, Sinar FM 97.1MHz, Zayan FM 98.1MHz and Era FM 103.6MHz.
Betong has more Chinese people there, there are only two Chinese full fledged radio stations such as Ai FM 92.5MHz and 988 FM 96.1MHz.
MCOT has district radio station in Chumphon, Thailand. While MCOT has province radio station in Chumphon on FM 90.75MHz, but it has another radio station in Lang Suan of the province, FM 105.25MHz.
In Yala, MCOT has its provincial radio station, known as MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz, transmitted from Khao Pokyo site to cover Yala, Pattani and part of Narathiwat, but MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz does not cover Betong. In addition, the station never serves Betong listeners. MCOT can launch MCOT Betong to serve the district, instead of launching repeater in Betong to relay MCOT Yala.
Other than MCOT, actually Royal Thai Army can also have its Betong radio station after FM 100.0MHz and AM 1080kHz radio stations from Yala, but different content. Moreover, NBTC can encourage Betong community broadcasters to set up community radio stations.
On previous article, I mentioned about FM 89.0MHz co-channel interference between Yala (Thailand Parliament Radio) and Gunung Jerai (Ikim FM) in Betong, Gerik and Pengkalan Hulu. The Bangkok based Thailand Parliament radio station (Sathani Witthayu Krachaisiang Ratthasapha {สถานีวิทยุกระจายเสียงรัฐสภา}) has frequency in Yala province on FM 89.0MHz, transmitted from Khao Pokyo (Bannang Sata-Rueso border). Unlike Radio Thailand which is public broadcaster, Thailand Parliament Radio does not cover all Thailand territories, it only covers important territories. For FM 89.0MHz, Thailand Parliament Radio serves Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani with 1 transmitter site, but it is not well receivable in Betong due to terrain. Actually Betong is not Thailand Parliament Radio FM 89.0MHz service area. If I talk about proposal to add repeater in Betong to relay FM 89.0MHz feeds, I don't think the station will do that because no commercial value. Moreover, Betong people don't really listen to Thailand parliament assembly debate and meetings on radio. So, it is not worth to launch
Sathani Witthayu Krachaisiang Ratthasapha {สถานีวิทยุกระจายเสียงรัฐสภา} repeater in Betong, however Thai Parliament Channel is already available in Betong via digital terrestrial television.
During analogue television transmission, only Royal Thai Army Channel 5 (ททบ.5) had repeater in Betong, Thailand on CH52 UHF 719.25MHz. After Thailand switches its terrestrial television transmission from analogue to digital, Betong has 28 free-to-air televison channels in DVB-T2 transmission.
For FM radio stations, by following Thailand FM frequency standards where 250kHz per channels, Betong has numbers of vacant frequencies such as:
- 87.5MHz
- 88.0MHz
- 89.25MHz
- 91.25MHz
- 93.75MHz
- 94.0MHz
- 95.75MHz
- 100.25MHz
- 101.5MHz
- 101.75MHz
- 102.0MHz
- 102.75MHz
- 104.0MHz
- 104.75MHz
- 105.25MHz
- 105.5MHz
- 106.25MHz
- 107.75MHz
I will do basic frequency analysis and studies on these vacant frequencies above in next article.
By having more radio stations in Betong, Thailand, this does not only provide another choice for listeners in Betong, Baling, Pengkalan Hulu and Gerik, but it can attract tourists and listeners.
Betong Airport photos are courtesy of ที่นี่ ท่าอากาศยานเบตง Betong Airport and Dannok Society Facebook page.
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