CAT Blocks DTAC Launch Of 3G Service

[webfact]

CAT blocks DTAC launch of 3G service

By USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION

CAT Telecom has further kept Total Access Communication from launching a commercial third-generation telecommunications service after DTAC has been waiting for such permission for many years.

CAT's board yesterday rejected DTAC's request, pending its readiness to accept the condition that it would not seek compensation from CAT for possible losses on its 3G service investment if the Cabinet decides to revoke DTAC's concession.

One telecom source wondered whether there was any hidden agenda, as it was strange that CAT raised such a condition in exchange for its permission. CAT had never mentioned this condition to DTAC before.

DTAC has waited for many years for CAT's nod to go ahead and launch the 3G-HSPA (high-speed packet access) service on its 850-megahertz spectrum. It is already providing a non-commercial 3G service on a trial basis with only 36 bases allowed by CAT.

CAT's board recently let DTAC expand the non-commercial service to 1,220 base stations across the country.

CAT chief executive officer Jirayuth Rungsrithong said it sent a letter to DTAC on March 17 informing the company that CAT would grant permission for commercial 3G service if it agreed first to the condition.

DTAC replied on Monday but CAT is still not satisfied with its answer, he said.

DTAC told CAT that it could accept the condition but only for possible damage to the planned 1,220 3G base stations. But Jirayuth said DTAC should expand its acceptance to cover "all its 3G investment", but declined to go into details.

Jirayuth denied that the board's refusal would benefit Real Move of True Corp, which is expected to launch its commercial 3G service on 850MHz this month.

Real Move would provide the service on a resale basis, unlike DTAC, which wants to provide the service under its existing CAT concession, he said.

The Information and Communications Technology Ministry committee charged with asking private telecom operators to pay compensation for their concession amendments would submit the results of the negotiations for the Cabinet's consideration soon.

DTAC plans capital expen?ditures this year of Bt6 billion to Bt7 billion, with some for network replacement and HSPA network expansion.

-- The Nation 2011-04-01

[gerazsolt]

Its a shame Thailand couldnt make proper 3G because they fighting over money...

[Guest]

Vietnam has already held an auction for 4G licenses. Thailand does not seem to care about the effect this kind of thing has on business and investment.

[Kissmehoney]

Another disgusting money move by public servants. i come from a small northern mining town of 6000 people in northern Canada and starting today they are now getting 4 G service. Thailand's politicians and public company executives should be ashamed of themselves for their total disregard for the people of Thailand. Corruption raises its ugly head again. The rest of the world is going 4G and we don't even have 3G. Just GPRS. 1000 times slower than the 21 Mb of 4G.

[chmiroau]

Thailand has really shown that it wants to be a 4th world country.

So many times this countries government has shown open racism, discrimination and fear of everything that may threaten their shrinking intellect.

It is such a shame that the corruption in this country has grown to such an extent that it is now hobbling the growth of so many people living here. The country is virtually lawless, the rich have so many ways not to pay any tax, while the vast majority are earning less than the minimum needed to pay tax. The laws are heavily influenced by the rich and the grafting is rampant.

Thailand has so many opportunities that are simply ignored because the ones that have the money are afraid that someone else will make some, heaven forbid, without paying a graft to the non-deserving in power.

I feel so desperately sad for the ever growing underprivileged here in this country, it is now time for them to really stand up and demand that all this bullshit stop and a more reasonable fairness should be spread across the country. As all of us foreigners have seen back in our own countries, the rich will still be rich, but there is always an opportunity for the less rich and the poor to build and have better lives.

[horsewell]

I read that AIS has a subsidiary that has already started making moves for 4G. It's a shame that things have to move so slow, however, it's seems that that our father's children will squabble. Have to give people time to adjust to self rule, it's only been about 80 years of democracy. Mind you, some of our older democracies seem to be busy not only squabbling internally but think they have to police the entire world with their own twisted agendas. At least they have 3G.... sort of.

[pisico]

Its a shame Thailand couldnt make proper 3G because they fighting over money...

Fighting over bribes.

[cme]

Thailand has really shown that it wants to be a 4th world country.

So many times this countries government has shown open racism, discrimination and fear of everything that may threaten their shrinking intellect.

It is such a shame that the corruption in this country has grown to such an extent that it is now hobbling the growth of so many people living here. The country is virtually lawless, the rich have so many ways not to pay any tax, while the vast majority are earning less than the minimum needed to pay tax. The laws are heavily influenced by the rich and the grafting is rampant.

Thailand has so many opportunities that are simply ignored because the ones that have the money are afraid that someone else will make some, heaven forbid, without paying a graft to the non-deserving in power.

I feel so desperately sad for the ever growing underprivileged here in this country, it is now time for them to really stand up and demand that all this bullshit stop and a more reasonable fairness should be spread across the country. As all of us foreigners have seen back in our own countries, the rich will still be rich, but there is always an opportunity for the less rich and the poor to build and have better lives.

An excellent post, and all sadly, so true.

[KhunSteven]

Vietnam has already held an auction for 4G licenses. Thailand does not seem to care about the effect this kind of thing has on business and investment.

Is Thailand still the only ASEAN country without 3G? As you rightly point out having a faster Internet and telephone connection would spur on innovation and investment here in Thailand.

[bangon04]

Today it just is not possible to distinguish the April Fool articles from the genuine Thai rubbish

[Payboy]

Today it just is not possible to distinguish the April Fool articles from the genuine Thai rubbish

Today is just a reminder of how things are in Thailand on the other 364 days. (with apologies to Mark Twain)

[hammered]

A lesson in thepower of the bureaucracy in Thailand. Even the government couldnt defeat CAT and TOT. The real power resides not in elected power but elsewhere. In the meantime it is put up with faux 850mhz so called 3G as the normal frequecies are ignored. Still letsguess some specially locally made handsets by a company owned by someone connected will benefit from supplying the people

[jaywalker]

Was in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. They have FREE 4G on their rail service into the city.

Bloody Neanderthals here.

[asiawatcher]

Carrier pidgeons work. Thailand should go back to a reliable service. What morons - talk about restrictive trade practices!!! And over outdated technology.

[Oberkommando]

Disgusting but as usual no surprise.

Thailand lagging behind even Cambodia in this regard, they've had 3G there for years.

[inmysights]

Another disgusting money move by public servants. i come from a small northern mining town of 6000 people in northern Canada and starting today they are now getting 4 G service. Thailand's politicians and public company executives should be ashamed of themselves for their total disregard for the people of Thailand. Corruption raises its ugly head again. The rest of the world is going 4G and we don't even have 3G. Just GPRS. 1000 times slower than the 21 Mb of 4G.

The words 'Thailand's' 'politicians' and 'public company executives' most certainly do not belong in the same sentence as 'should be ashamed of themselves'. These people HAVE no shame.

[Derifo]

Thailand has really shown that it wants to be a 4th world country.

Seconded.

[Derifo]

Another disgusting money move by public servants. i come from a small northern mining town of 6000 people in northern Canada and starting today they are now getting 4 G service. Thailand's politicians and public company executives should be ashamed of themselves for their total disregard for the people of Thailand. Corruption raises its ugly head again. The rest of the world is going 4G and we don't even have 3G. Just GPRS. 1000 times slower than the 21 Mb of 4G.

The words 'Thailand's' 'politicians' and 'public company executives' most certainly do not belong in the same sentence as 'should be ashamed of themselves'. These people HAVE no shame.

True.

They only do when it comes to losing face.

[Crushdepth]

I'd love to know whose pocket the $$$ CAT generates from its spectrum concessions actually goes into. There's your problem right there.

[givenall]

Its a shame Thailand couldnt make proper 3G because they fighting over money...

What is wrong with you man. Thailand is all about money

[animatic]

"Public Servants" that is a disgusting joke of a name.

[EyesWideOpen]

For a country that seems to be entirely focused on face, and attempts to not lose face, it seems odd they are making themselves the laughing stock of the ASEAN world by not having 3 G. To me it is the usual pigs fighting at the feeding trough.....Hey wait a minute....Maybe this is a master plan by government geniuses to skip 3G and go direct to 4G ?? Nahhh......

[dominique355]

C A T = Civil servants Against Telecommunication.

T O T = Terminate Our Telecommunication

M I C T = Ministry of Internet Censorship of Thailand

With these three clown clubs not likely that anything will ever improve here.

[bangon04]

For a country that seems to be entirely focused on face, and attempts to not lose face, it seems odd they are making themselves the laughing stock of the ASEAN world by not having 3 G. To me it is the usual pigs fighting at the feeding trough.....Hey wait a minute....Maybe this is a master plan by government geniuses to skip 3G and go direct to 4G ?? Nahhh......

wwwdot laughingstockthailand dot com

3G

aircraft carrier

submarines

blmp

nope..... seems like losing face is not really that much to be bothered about these days. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks - we don't respect Farang (is that a direct quote?)

[laocowboy2]

Tsk, tsk

You really need to start thinking like the (Chinese) Thai vested interests.

For us it is a no brainer - better communications etc = better investment climate = more foreign investment = better jobs = better general welfare of people through higher wages and higher living standards.

For them better communications = cheaper internet = better informed and better educated people = means we cannot get away with what we have been doing for generatios = NO WAY

Better communications = more foreign investment = more competition for my old school, low productivity, milk it for all it is worth with no reinvestment business = NO WAY

And let's not even go to how good jobs from foreign investment would force Chinese Thai businesses to pay proper wages at last.

And old fashioned, low wage economy status quo suits some very nicely.

And this from a politically reactionary ex-banker!

Another disgusting money move by public servants. i come from a small northern mining town of 6000 people in northern Canada and starting today they are now getting 4 G service. Thailand's politicians and public company executives should be ashamed of themselves for their total disregard for the people of Thailand. Corruption raises its ugly head again. The rest of the world is going 4G and we don't even have 3G. Just GPRS. 1000 times slower than the 21 Mb of 4G.

The words 'Thailand's' 'politicians' and 'public company executives' most certainly do not belong in the same sentence as 'should be ashamed of themselves'. These people HAVE no shame.

[TheWalkingMan]

Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

[Langsuan Man]

wwwdot laughingstockthailand dot com

3G

aircraft carrier

submarines

blmp

nope..... seems like losing face is not really that much to be bothered about these days. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks - we don't respect Farang (is that a direct quote?)

Shame on you , you forgot the dowsing rod bomb detectors

[Sakeopete]

I think its a foreign plot by sexpats to keep the people poor and stupid thereby ensuring an ample supply of bar girls. Think about it, if Thailand were to modernize with good governance it would be called Singapore and become far too expensive. It has nothing to do with Thai politicians at all just a foreign plot.

[Igor]

DTAC shuuld thank them politely, bank the investment funds and start working on a modern system.

By the way, I'm an AIS 3G customer in Chiang Mai. Even when I can find a signal, about half the time 2G is faster...

[dai ru55]

Another disgusting money move by public servants. i come from a small northern mining town of 6000 people in northern Canada and starting today they are now getting 4 G service. Thailand's politicians and public company executives should be ashamed of themselves for their total disregard for the people of Thailand. Corruption raises its ugly head again. The rest of the world is going 4G and we don't even have 3G. Just GPRS. 1000 times slower than the 21 Mb of 4G.

I have no idea where you got the speed of 21Mb for 4G I think you will find the actual speed is 100Mb to 1Gb... 3G speeds are 28Mb or 56Mb with mimo. A quick google search =

IMT-Advanced (International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced) requirements for 4G standards, setting peak speed requirements for 4G service at 100 Megabits per second for high mobility communication (such as from trains and cars) and 1 Gbps for low mobility communication (such as pedestrians and stationary users)