Ais To Debut Its 3g Cellular Service In May, June

[george]

AIS to debut its 3G cellular service

BANGKOK: -- Advanced Info Service (AIS) will debut a third-generation (3G) service in Chiang Mai on May 6, followed by Bangkok on June 15, under the 3GSM Advance brand.

AIS plans to launch the 3G broadband cellular service on its existing 900-megahertz spectrum in 20 provinces this year on a budget of about Bt600 million. The amount is part of its total budget of Bt16 billion set aside for the overall development of existing and 3G networks this year.

CEO Vikrom Sripataks yesterday said AIS had targeted 70,000-80,000 3G subscribers this year.

However, customers wanting to enjoy AIS's 3G service must buy new compatible mobile phones that come with 3GSM Advance SIM cards, which will be available soon. They will still be able to use their existing phone numbers.

Currently available 3G mobile phones in Thailand support the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum.

The National Telecommuni-cations Commission (NTC) has yet to allocate licences to operate 2.1GHz spectrum bands for telecom operators to offer 3G service.

Initially, the AIS service will be available to post-paid subscribers before covering prepaid subscribers in the third quarter. Among the highlighted services are an Internet connection and a video-call service between 3G phone users. The cost of the video call-service will be Bt3 a minute.

AIS now has about 24 million subscribers, 2.5 million of whom are post-paid ones.

President Wichian Mektra-karn said AIS had to move ahead and launch the 3G service on the existing spectrum instead of waiting for the 2.1GHz spectrum bands, in order to show its leadership and give customers experience using 3G.

Last month state telecom agencies and their private concessionaires were given the nod to launch 3G services on their existing 900MHz and 850MHz bands.

-- The Nation 2008-04-10

[dave_boo]

That's it AIS, drag them into the future. I do worry though that the whole 2100/900/850 frequency could cause some confusion unless there are phones readily available that supports all of them.

[monty]

I think it's more a case that AIS will only give you the 3G special simcard, if you buy a 3G device from them.

Which coincidently quite a few (if not most) operators worldwide do!

Dtac will try out Phuket and Chonburi, if they do it without having to buy a device from them, they will easily beat AIS.

And I have feeling this might be so, since in their advertising blurb they clearly stated one of the reasons they chose hspa, is that a lot of exisiting devices support it already!

Wait and see

[worldfun]

yes it's all about marketing!!!

phones & other countries have supported multiple frequencies 3G & HSDPA for years in 'developed' or not so developed countries such as Australia, Cambodia, Philippines & Indonesia LOL.

only LOS & Vietnam in this region have for various reason's not been able to move on & for LOS we all know who to blame (yes Thaksin!)...

That DTAC may enable current subscribers with capable devices to enjoy 3G seems like the way to go & their way to go as the more modern & western thinking operator here.

However if they're not in BKK from June onwards like AIS then who are they kidding? Pattaya cheap charlie expats to start paying double or triple per minute for calls just to annoyed that their multiple gf can see where they are (video calling) LOL?

No way!!! :-)))

Edited April 14, 2008 by worldfun

[dekka007]

I'd be happy if AIS sorted their so unreliable EDGE connection out first before they even considered 3G Muppets.

Edited April 14, 2008 by dekka007

[nikster]

Hurrahhh!

... wasn't the story with the so-called "NTC" that the NTC has not been formed yet or something like that? Some sort of draw-it-out-forever scheme...? Too bad Thailand just can't get over itself and just dish out those 2.1 GHz frequencies....

[nikster]

I think it's more a case that AIS will only give you the 3G special simcard, if you buy a 3G device from them.

Which coincidently quite a few (if not most) operators worldwide do!

Interesting... I wonder if that's some sort of sinister plan. But do they really have a choice given that 850 MHz is not very wide-spread?

I think it's funny that AIS is banking on that application that has been touted for years, yet has never taken off anywhere in the world: Video telephony. If it hasn't worked anywhere else, maybe it'll work in Thailand. Right. Thais will pay through the nose to be able to hold the phone 30 cm from their face and look like complete idiots while trying to make out what the other party is saying. A surefire success!

They'll sell lots of data plans for road warriors with laptops but that's about it.

Unless the up and coming 3G iPhone and its inevitable clones comes with more compelling reasons to have 3G than exist right now. But for now... OK so mobile web surfing will be much improved, and Google maps as well.

[Crushdepth]

... wasn't the story with the so-called "NTC" that the NTC has not been formed yet or something like that? Some sort of draw-it-out-forever scheme...? Too bad Thailand just can't get over itself and just dish out those 2.1 GHz frequencies....

Yeah this in one of my favourite 'Thailandisms'. You can set up a new mobile phone company sure no problem, just apply for a permit at the NTC. Where's that? Oh it doesn't exist yet...when our ex-PM resumes his job he may set it up now that he is no longer in the mobile business...come back when you have the permit :-)

Edited April 15, 2008 by Crushdepth

[nikster]

... wasn't the story with the so-called "NTC" that the NTC has not been formed yet or something like that? Some sort of draw-it-out-forever scheme...? Too bad Thailand just can't get over itself and just dish out those 2.1 GHz frequencies....

Yeah this in one of my favourite 'Thailandisms'. You can set up a new mobile phone company sure no problem, just apply for a permit at the NTC. Where's that? Oh it doesn't exist yet...when our ex-PM resumes his job he may set it up now that he is no longer in the mobile business...come back when you have the permit :-)

LOL. The man is a true genius. And Thailand a place where one can get away with such BS.