Thailand 3G Bidders Face Hours Of Secrecy And Seclusion

[webfact]

3G bidders face hours of secrecy and seclusion

By USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION

Thailand will hold its most competitive, and probably most secretive, auction ever later this month when the country's telecom giants vie for highly prized licences to provide third-generation (3G) services.

Two of the first three 3G-2.1GHz-spectrum licences will be up for grabs at a starting price of Bt12.8 billion apiece when the bidding takes place from September 20 to September 28.

The likely venue is Evason Hua Hin & Six Senses Spa, a resort property about two hours' drive from Bangkok.

Secrecy is the top requirement as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which is responsible for the auction, wants to ensure maximum transparency and competition in the bidding process.

Since 3G licences are now the most sought after assets in the telecom industry, they should fetch the highest prices if the bidding is transparent and highly competitive.

Most importantly, there must be no collusion among the three pre-registered bidders - Advanced Wireless Network of Advanced Info Service, DTAC Internet Service of Total Access Communication, and Real Move of True Corp.

NTC commissioner Natee Sukonrat said the commission has good enough measures to ensure transparency of the auction process.

Up to seven representatives of each of the three bidders will be allowed to enter the auction venue. CEOs, CFOs and other top executives are expected to personally supervise their firms' bids.

It will be like taking part in one of the popular reality TV shows as they will arrive with lots of luggage at the auction site on September 19 to draw lots to use separate housing and office units at the site and not leave until the auction is over.

The auction could be held for one day or two days or up to eight days.

They will also draw lots to get user names and passwords for the computers, which will be provided for their use during the auction.

All participants will be closely monitored around the clock by the Armed Force Security Centre hired by the NTC to ensure there is no personal contact between the different bidders.

For top executives, the experience might not be so pleasant, even though the venue is likely to be a top-class one like the Evason Hua Hin.

The only entertainment allowed is they can bring their own movie DVDs but, of course, it will be checked by NTC staff.

Even the NTC staff will not know beforehand due to lot-drawing, while the auction results will be managed and displayed on computer screens in a separate room.

Hotel staff also will not be in the know beforehand about whom they will be serving food and beverages for as that will be decided by the drawing of lots.

The auction time is 9am to 9pm.

The first licence is a spectrum set of radio frequency of 1920-1935 MHz paired with 2110-2125 MHz with a bandwidth of 2 x 15 MHz.

The second licence covers the radio frequency of 1935-1950 MHz paired with 2125-2140 MHz with a bandwidth of 2 x 15 MHz.

Bidders who make the first offer on the chosen licences will be deemed the provisional winners. They can choose only one licence.

Each offer must be worth a standard Bt640 million, and there are a maximum of 12 rounds per day per licence so the price could rise by Bt7.68 billion from the starting price of Bt12.8 billion.

-- The Nation 2010-09-02

[jonclark]

"...Secrecy is the top requirement as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which is responsible for the auction, wants to ensure maximum transparency and competition in the bidding process.. "

Doesn't that seem a bit contradictory???

[basjke]

Now just wait untill the evening of the 20 September when the first reports of irregularities and cheating will be made public.

The odds are even high that this whole auction thing is cancelled at the last minute because of these same reasons.

[Pib]

"3G bidders face hours of secrecy and seclusion"

Oh my goodness, the horror, the torture, the pain, etc. Then again, it could also mean just getting a few hours good nap. Who thinks of these hyped-up headlines.

[Caliguy]

All of this over 3G. 4G is already out lol!

[jayjayjayjay]

I say the politicians must have got this one sewed up weeks ago. I wonder which room Newin is booked into!!!!!!!

[hoaker]

What a competition between the three conglomerates. How can they keep saying transparency when everyone knows there isn't any, otherwise we would be moving forward much quicker.

[jfchandler]

What is the "Real Move" name in reference to True Corp.... True Move is True's mobile phone arm. But "Real Move" is????

[Thailand]

3จี it's soooo last year, hope they have fun all cooped up together. But if the pie has not already been sliced up I will be very surprised.

[CMFarang]

"" AIS Advanced Wireless Network of Advanced Info Service, DTAC Internet Service of Total Access Communication Real Move of True Corp.""

Again , not a real or reliable Company in the Lot to give us a decent service for our Baht..

I guess when I get 1.5G instead of 3G , we can blame the International lines for being inadequate ,

Will International Access be Available , or will Band Width be limited like the current Internet connections ??

In the end it is all just more CAT and TOT Junk

TIT - LOS -

[bitterbatter]

All of this over 3G. 4G is already out lol!

My thoughts exactly! Why are they focusing on 3G???? Get ahead of the game for a change! 4G, aka. 4th generation, is already the standard in Japan. It means that peole can make video phone calls and watch TV on their phones. But then again, maybe this is just one more distraction that they don't want the youth to have.

[gonzobrains]

"...Secrecy is the top requirement as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which is responsible for the auction, wants to ensure maximum transparency and competition in the bidding process.. "

Doesn't that seem a bit contradictory???

i think so. but were you expecting otherwise?

[MJo]

All of this over 3G. 4G is already out lol!

My thoughts exactly! Why are they focusing on 3G???? Get ahead of the game for a change! 4G, aka. 4th generation, is already the standard in Japan. It means that peole can make video phone calls and watch TV on their phones. But then again, maybe this is just one more distraction that they don't want the youth to have.

There is no 4G yet as there is no final standard for it.

4G will be all IP packet switched networks with real 100 Mbit/s speeds and HDTV streaming etc if present plans go thru. WiMax and LTE at the moment does not meet these objectives and are not "4G" even if the operators are branding them as such. Just marketing hype to get customers to think they are getting something new and much faster...

[whybother]

All of this over 3G. 4G is already out lol!

My thoughts exactly! Why are they focusing on 3G???? Get ahead of the game for a change! 4G, aka. 4th generation, is already the standard in Japan. It means that peole can make video phone calls and watch TV on their phones. But then again, maybe this is just one more distraction that they don't want the youth to have.

I thought you could make video calls on 2G (or 2.5G).

[powderpuff]

3GSM dinosaur system.

Get real.

Money for old soap.