TOT To Showcase Its 3G Service

[webfact]

TOT

TOT to showcase its 3G service

By Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

TOT plans a two-day showcase of its 3G service again on June 10 with the intention of emphasising that the government could make the dream of a nationwide 3G service in Thailand come true, a state agency source said.

The source added that the showcase will be a political attempt to highlight the government's performance ahead of the July 3 general election.

But the showcase will have to rely on TOT's existing network in Greater Bangkok as the first phase of TOT's rollout of new and nationwide 3G network would be finished in the next four months. The cost of the showcase is estimated at Bt5 million.

TOT introduced the 3G network on December 3, 2009 under the Abhisit Vejjajiva government. At that time, Ranongrak Suwanchawee of the Puea Pandin Party was the Information and Communications Technology Minister.

approval for 3g network

The Cabinet approved the TOT plan to roll out the 3G network nationwide last September. The current ICT Minister Chuti Krairiksh belongs to the Democrat Party.

The Cabinet approval for TOT's new network rollout came shortly after the Central Administrative Court issued an injunction last September against the National Telecommunications Commission's plan to auction the 3G-2.1GHz spectrum licences last September.

TOT is expected to complete the launch of its new 3G network in the middle of next year. The network installation in the first two phases will be finished in 180 days after May and will focus on Greater Bangkok and 13 provinces. The third phase will be the network's nationwide expansion.

TOT's plan to roll out the new nationwide 3G network was not smooth. On January 27, the Ericsson-led consortium filed a complaint at the Central Administrative Court that it was unfairly disqualified in TOT's bidder qualification process to procure the new 3G network. The court has ordered a judicial review.

TOT held the e-auction on January 29 when the SL consortium emerged as the winner. The state agency granted the deal to the consortium in May.

-- The Nation 2011-06-06

[KKvampire]

There needs some competition for True, Their monopoly and overpriced service sucks

[Payboy]

dream of a nationwide 3G service in Thailand

[timi2546]

dream of a nationwide 3G service in Thailand

LOL real wet dream !!

better to concentrate old connections 1st...

more fun with TOT

.. . amazing thailand ..

[Soupdragon]

3G has been available at Base Camp on Everest for a long time now to put it in perspective how far Thailand is behind.

[FOODLOVER]

Dont they have 4g now?

[Jeffrey346]

Dont they have 4g now?

You are correct... 4G is available in America...

[49erMike]

I have been travelling in Cambodia recently...3G service spans the country! I pay $20 per month for 12gb of bandwidth. Speeds typically outside of Phnom Pehn are 2.5 to 5.7 Mbs and faster than that in PP. Good service, fast speeds and inexpensive...good luck on seeing that soon in Thailand!

3G has been available at Base Camp on Everest for a long time now to put it in perspective how far Thailand is behind.

[rch1023]

Only a few days ago, they said roll-out would take 14 years! (but it might have been a misprint)