3G News & Developments

[lomatopo]

On 30 August 2011 Truemove H launched 3G service on 850 Mhz across ~ 3,000 base-station in Bangkok and 16 provinces. At present this is a post-paid only service.

Follow the Truemove H roll-out on this ThaiVisa thread.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It's kind of curious to me that the various news reports always seem to focus on the True/CAT issues, and DTAC's woes and AIS's expansion plans... but not so much on TOT and its 3G MVNO partners...

TOT sent out an email to subscribers recently talking about its plans for expanding its current Bangkok area 3G service on the 2100 Mhz band, and going national with what they call 3.9G service at up to 42 Mbps.

Their email included the following info:

By mid-quarter, fourth quarter this year, they said they will serve 3G to the Bangkok metropolitan area and 14 other provinces.

Then during 2012, they're promising their 3G service in all provinces across the country.

Beyond BKK, the 14 provinces they're promising to add service to soonest (later this year) were listed as:

Chonburi, Rayong, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani.

http://www.tot3g.net/PromotionDetail11-EN.aspx?rand=634510867427337614

http://www.tot3g.net/NewsDetail.aspx?pid=56

There are a couple of things that make me interested in their service, including that:

1. TOT is the only mobile ISP that's currently developing their 3G network on the 2100 Mhz band (True and DTAC are on 850 Mhz and AIS on 900 Mhz) that ultimately is supposed to be the national standard (via the sometime in the future national 2100 Mhz 3G concession award).

And 2. TOT (as a state enterprise) doesn't seem to be dependent on any other outside entity (not like True needing to rely on CAT or AIS needing 3G roaming help from TOT, or DTAC begging to CAT) to advance their plans.

[thaicbr]

Like normal TOT had competition so ....gave up.

But yes if the management at TOT had even the slightest sense and work ethic then TOT should have the best,fastest 3g in Thailand.

But they gave up... just like CAT are doing with TRUE... CAT are supposed to have their own network as well... but guess what...they gave up...

ps: i believe the TOT national network was going to be 1900mhz as that was the only spectrum not governed by the 14 year old, not yet formed committee. the NBTC.

Edited September 8, 2011 by thaicbr

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Like normal TOT had competition so ....gave up.

But yes if the management at TOT had even the slightest sense and work ethic then TOT should have the best,fastest 3g in Thailand.

But they gave up... just like CAT are doing with TRUE... CAT are supposed to have their own network as well... but guess what...they gave up...

ps: i believe the TOT national network was going to be 1900mhz as that was the only spectrum not governed by the 14 year old, not yet formed committee. the NBTC.

I'm not sure what the basis in fact is, for what you're saying above...

TOT's announcement last month in August clearly referenced them expanding their current BKK network on the 2100 Mhz band to the rest of the country on the same band...

right frequency 3G handset is the first and only 3G is a genuine national service with the standard spectrum. 2100 MHz.'s International Telecommunications Union.

And they seem to have a solid plan, if you look at the second link above in Google Translate, for expanding beyond BKK soon and then going national.

How exactly have they given up???

BTW, the members of the broadcasting panel were just voted and announced by the Senate in the past week... just waiting the King's sign-off now, what what I read.

[lomatopo]

In theory the NTBC will hold an auction for 2100 Mhz 3G service, some expect this to take place towards the end of 2012, or 1H2012. It remains unclear what would happen to existing 3G service, or why anyone would bid for 2100 Mhz? Layering on the unknowns of the current concessions ending over the next 2 - 6 years, I suspect we are in for a confusing time.

TOT has been strangely quiet over the past few months but have previously mentioned an aggressive 3G national build-out of 5,230 bases stations (financing from Bank of Ayuduya and UOB), on 1900 Mhz, and an integration of their 525 "experimental" bases-stations (2100 Mhz) in metro-Bangkok.

TOT, like CAT, is unable/unwilling, to offer direct consumer mobile voice and data services. Perhaps not unexpected for a State enterprise? Hence CAT needs Truemove H and TOT needs iKool/iMobile 3GX, Mojo, IEC, 365. Truemove H may be able to offer ubiquitous voice and data services (still unclear how they will handle off-network service; roaming on Truemove presumably), but TOT cannot offer nationwide GSM voice/SMS/2G data, and neither can the current MVNO partners. This is why the current TOT 3G/MVNO service is nearly useless.

[lomatopo]

TOT to finalise plans next year on concession expiry

By Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation

Published on September 8, 2011

TOT will conclude next year its plan to deal with possible |declining revenue from the effect of the 2010 Frequency Allocation Act and the approaching ends of its private telecom concession terms, according to the state agency's president Anont Tubtiang.

He said the keys to maintaining TOT's financial health included seeking a strong business partnership for its broadband Internet services, including its third-generation wireless service.

The Frequency Allocation Act obliges both TOT and CAT Telecom to transfer all concession revenue to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission three years after implementation of the frequency law, which took effect last year. The NBTC will then pass TOT's and CAT's concession revenues to state coffers.

Recently CAT said it expected to post a loss of Bt2 billion in 2014, when it has to transfer its concession revenue to the NBTC. CAT has pinned its hope on its 3G and fixed-line broadband services to shore up its revenue after that time.

more

[lomatopo]

Telecoms set for upgrade under new regulatory commission

By Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

[email protected]

Published on September 10, 2011

Thailand is expected to issue new 3G (third generation) telecom licences in the second half of next year if the country's first National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is up and running soon. Earlier this week, the Senate successfully completed its selection of 11 commissioners for the powerful body, which is empowered to regulate the broadcasting and telecom sectors. One of its top priorities is to address the bottleneck in 3G licensing. Citibank research says the choice of 11 NBTC commissioners is positive, given that one notable elected person is Dr Natee Sukonrat, a former member of the National Telecom Commission, which will be shortly replaced by the new body.

According to law, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is required to submit the names of the 11 NBTC commissioners chosen by the Senate for royal endorsement shortly. According to the research, Dr Natee is a strong proponent of the 3G licensing and has a lot of experience in telecom regulation, so he is expected to help speed up the licensing process after the Supreme Administrative Court last year halted the auction of 3G licenses due to the absence of the consolidated regulatory body. According to the Constitution, the NBTC, not the NTC, has the mandate to issue those licences.

more

[thaicbr]

Like normal TOT had competition so ....gave up.

But yes if the management at TOT had even the slightest sense and work ethic then TOT should have the best,fastest 3g in Thailand.

But they gave up... just like CAT are doing with TRUE... CAT are supposed to have their own network as well... but guess what...they gave up...

ps: i believe the TOT national network was going to be 1900mhz as that was the only spectrum not governed by the 14 year old, not yet formed committee. the NBTC.

I'm not sure what the basis in fact is, for what you're saying above...

TOT's announcement last month in August clearly referenced them expanding their current BKK network on the 2100 Mhz band to the rest of the country on the same band...

right frequency 3G handset is the first and only 3G is a genuine national service with the standard spectrum. 2100 MHz.'s International Telecommunications Union.

And they seem to have a solid plan, if you look at the second link above in Google Translate, for expanding beyond BKK soon and then going national.

How exactly have they given up???

BTW, the members of the broadcasting panel were just voted and announced by the Senate in the past week... just waiting the King's sign-off now, what what I read.

actually i had not seen last months BS memo from TOT. and actually the NTBC members have not even been handed over to the King for sign off yet due to irregularity's

Loma. has given more info of why i stated they had 'given up'

The only one to look out for when (if) they get 2100mhz will be DTAC. At least for foreigners.

[Crushdepth]

Today I noticed I'm getting a 3G/H+ icon on my DTAC sim along Viphavadee. Speedtest is giving me 5.82 mb down and 1.82 up through to Singapore. I'm on an old unlimited EDGE plan.

[lomatopo]

Today I noticed I'm getting a 3G/H+ icon on my DTAC sim along Viphavadee. Speedtest is giving me 5.82 mb down and 1.82 up through to Singapore. I'm on an old unlimited EDGE plan.

From the DTAC 3G thread...

Current dtac customers who subscribed for unlimited mobile internet package will receive automatic upgrade which entitles them to the dtac 3G service. For current dtac customers who subscribe for other packages, simply dial *3000# and press call (toll free) to enable the dtac 3G service. There is currently no additional charge for the dtac 3G service

From DTAC...

Dtac present all available dtac 3G is a mobile phone or device that supports 3G 850 MHz and in the service area dtac 3G. for the good of both postpaid and prepaid the packet. The main route for the use of the Internet with unlimited (unlimited) and DTAC will upgrade the service is available dtac 3G automatically at speeds up to 42 Mbps as soon as smartphone infinite, iPhone M, iPhone L, BlackBerry UNLIMIT, aircard-. tablet unlimited and plan for unlimited 790 baht, and so on for existing customers who use the internet package is based on the amount of usage data can be used dtac 3G speeds up to 42 Mbps, just dial * 3000 # and then call out , and for the present. The other package can be used dtac 3G up to 384 Kbps, just dial * 3000 # and then call out , to use dtac 3G's full potential. Customers can check the equipment and services to support more dtac 3G. here or call. 1678 dtac call center, press 3, press 8.

DTAC's coverage map has expanded quite a bit since launch, perhaps reflecting the 200 additional base stations they've added.

Edited September 15, 2011 by lomatopo

[moo9]

Major headche when reading these stuid 3G news!

[Phil Conners]

^ Hm, so why read them?

[lomatopo]

Hurdle stays for DTAC's 3G service

By USANEE MONGKOLPORN,

ASINA PORNWASIN,

THE NATION

Published on September 16, 2011

Even though the Office of the Attorney-General has indicated that Total Access Communication (DTAC)'s launch of a commercial 3G service last month was within its cellular concession from CAT Telecom, it remains to be seen if CAT will willingly give its full consent to the service. ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said CAT's CEO, Jirayuth Rungsrithong, informed him that CAT yesterday received the OAG's reply to its question in April about whether DTAC can launch the 3G commercial service under its concession. Anudith said that despite the OAG's green light, DTAC still needs CAT's full consent to launch the service. Jirayuth said CAT would ask the OAG today to explain some aspects of its reply. DTAC declined to comment, pending CAT's forwarding of the official OAG reply to the company.

DTAC plans to roll out 800 more 3G sites to cover all of Bangkok and 20 other provinces this year before installing 780 sites next year. The total of 2,000 sites will cover 40 provinces. DTAC has insisted that it can launch its commercial 3G service under the permit it secured from the National Telecommunications Commission to install and use a 3G-HSPA (high speed packet access) network.

more

[lomatopo]

CAT seeks fresh review of DTAC 3G

Published: 17/09/2011

CAT Telecom says it will ask the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) to reinterpret its recent ruling on third-generation commercial service by Total Access Communication (DTAC).

The state telecom enterprise wants further clarity on whether DTAC can can offer the service commercially under the terms of its existing concession with CAT, said president Jirayuth Roongsrithong. He said the request should be the last attempt for a legal interpretation before CAT gives its consent to the second-ranked mobile operator to go ahead. "The OAG's ruling did not match our question," he said yesterday. "The decision was based on the permission given by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission."

The acting NBTC earlier permitted DTAC to import radio equipment to develop the high-speed packet access (HSPA) platform.

[lomatopo]

Decision on Dtac 3G network near, says CAT's chief

By Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

Published on September 19, 2011

CAT Telecom chief executive officer Jirayuth Rungsrithong said a decision is near on whether Total Access Communications (DTAC)'s concession allows it to upgrade its existing network to 3G technology.

But it remains unclear whether this is so. DTAC, which operates under a concession from CAT, has been waiting since 2008 for the agency's consent to upgrade its network to 3G-High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technology to provide commercial 3G-850 MHz service. So far, CAT has granted DTAC permission to do so only on a non-commercial basis.

Jirayuth said CAT would consult again the Office of the Attorney-General on whether DTAC is allowed to upgrade its network, this time with the added request that the Office reply promptly.

CAT first consulted the Office on this matter on April 22. The Office replied on September 12 that it had declined to make a decision on the matter.

more

[lomatopo]

Total Access CEO Says 3G Auction May Occur in Second Quarter

September 19, 2011, 9:15 PM EDT

By Daniel Ten Kate

Sept. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Total Access Communication Pcl, Thailand’s second-largest mobile-phone carrier, said the regulator may sell licenses for third-generation wireless services by as early as the second quarter amid pressure from consumers seeking faster download speeds. The company upgraded its network this year to provide 3G services, keeping pace with rivals Advanced Info Service Pcl and True Corp. The private companies operate second-generation networks under concessions from state-run firms CAT Telecom Pcl and TOT Plc, which gain about a quarter of their revenue from the contracts.

Data usage now accounts for less than 10 percent of Total Access’s revenue, with fewer than one in 10 customers accessing the services consistently, he said. The company has about 22 million subscribers, or a 30 percent market share in Thailand, according to its website.

more

[lomatopo]

AIS to double 3G network capacity

Goal is for 6 million broadband customers

Published: 30/09/2011 at 12:00 AM

Advanced Info Service Plc, the country's biggest mobile operator, has underlined its mission to maintain its leadership in wireless services, with plans to double its 3G network capacity to 3,500 sites next year.

CEO Wichian Mektrakarn (centre) celebrates the introduction of a new company logo with hundreds of AIS employees at company headquarters yesterday. The mobile leader is planning to expand 3G capacity next year to gain market share in the burgeoning field. Chief executive officer Wichian Mektrakarn said the company plans to double its 3G network capacity to accommodate up to 6 million customers by adding 1,600 sites to bring the total to 3,500 by April 2012. While Mr Wichian did not reveal the investment cost, he said AIS had spent up to 10 billion baht on network ex pansion this year. Of the total, 2.5 billion is for 3G network upgrades with the remainder for Edge and WiFi network expansion.

The speeds of AIS's 3G services _ running on HSPA, Edge plus and WiFi systems _ vary depending on locations and tariff packages. The 3G HSPA network offers download speeds of up to 21 megabits per second, while the Edge plus network will have download capability of 296 kilobits per second.

AIS believes the number of its mobile data users will top 10.5 million this year, and hopes to enlist 1 million 3G users by the end of this year, up from 890,000 currently.

link misdirected

Edited October 1, 2011 by lomatopo

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Dunno what's going on with I-Mobile, an MVNO of TOT for 3G...

They used to have a big, fairly fancy retail shop in CentralWorld near the other major mobile players' outlets, but that's been closed sometime in the last couple months... Likewise, they used to have a shop in FortuneTown IT, but their main office said that shop's been closed as well.

The main office said their only retail shop around central Bangkok now is in MBK, so we went there the other day... and found a small shop there staffed with just two people behind a desk, pretty much no mobile phones on display, and just a few glass cases with I-Mobile SIM packages inside.

From outward appearances, it would seem they're either seriously running short of money or seriously out of operating funds.... A bit worrisome.

[lomatopo]

Dunno what's going on with I-Mobile, an MVNO of TOT for 3G...

They used to have a big, fairly fancy retail shop in CentralWorld near the other major mobile players' outlets, but that's been closed sometime in the last couple months... Likewise, they used to have a shop in FortuneTown IT, but their main office said that shop's been closed as well.

The main office said their only retail shop around central Bangkok now is in MBK, so we went there the other day... and found a small shop there staffed with just two people behind a desk, pretty much no mobile phones on display, and just a few glass cases with I-Mobile SIM packages inside.

From outward appearances, it would seem they're either seriously running short of money or seriously out of operating funds.... A bit worrisome.

iMobile 3GX is a subsidiary of Samart Corp. a fairly large and diversified IT/Tech firm. They are part of the consortium that is expanding the TOT 3G network. This

relationship' is rumored to be on shaky ground? Not sure they can compete without roaming agreements, which would offer national voice/text/data service?

Their retail outlet list does show ~ 25% of their shops have closed recently:

http://www.i-mobile3gx.com/main/3gx_shopmap.php

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Right now, I-Mobile customers use TOT's network in BKK for voice calls and 3G data.... But their customers when outside BKK have to roam to AIS for calls for an extra charge, and don't have any data service at all...

It's been my understanding, from talking to I-Mobile folks, that as TOT expands their 3G network this year and next to outside of BKK, that I-Mobile would follow along with, and gain access to, that expanded network.... with the same kind of joint relationship they now have in BKK...

Will that pan out as promised, I don't know... I do know I-Mobile is part of Samart and a much larger corporate entity... Which is what made their seemingly sudden downsizing of I-Mobile operations an odd development.... I hope it's not an alliance that's heading for the rocks.

[lomatopo]

It's been my understanding, from talking to I-Mobile folks, that as TOT expands their 3G network this year and next to outside of BKK, that I-Mobile would follow along with, and gain access to, that expanded network.... with the same kind of joint relationship they now have in BKK...

Actually this is incorrect. TOT is not expanding their 3G network, they went to public bidding for third parties to expand the network and Samart "won" the bid (in a joint bid with Loxley, Huawei). Other bidders have protested but not sure where that "inquiry" stands now? (This was a "mast deal" similar to TOT/Truemove H.)

SIM, the Samart iMobile 3GX subsidiary, has stated that they plan to become a "full MVNO" as a result of this contract. My best guess is that the iMobile 3GX have been closing shops when leases finish, and will perhaps re-brand in Q1 or Q2 when the first phases of the network expansion finish, and then re-launch the new brand, service offerings and open new retail locations?

This article explains the situation...

TOT awards $530m 3G network contract to units of Samart, Loxley

From Dow Jones Newswires

Monday 09 May 2011

Thai telco says first phase of 3G rollout project will be completed six months after signing of contract.

Thailand's state telecom enterprise TOT PCL has signed a deal, awarding a THB16.00 billion ($530 million) contract to SL Consortium to build its third-generation telecommunications network, TOT said in a statement Monday.

SL Consortium, which comprises units of Samart Corp PCL and Loxley PCL, submitted an initial bid of THB16.29 billion, but the value of the deal was lowered to THB16.00 billion after negotiations.

TOT expects the first phase of the project to be completed six months after the signing of the contract and the project is expected to be completed, covering 70% of the country's population, within a year, it said in the statement.

Subscribers of TOT's mobile services are expected to be able to enjoy its 3G services in Bangkok and 13 key provinces in the fourth quarter before the 3G coverage expands to nationwide by the middle of next year, it said.

TOT targets raising the number of its 3G service users to 1.3 million this year from around 200,000 at present. It aims to increase the number of subscribers to 7 million by 2015, gaining no less than 8% of market share, the statement said.

The company has set a budget of THB19.98 billion for the construction of its 3G network. Around 20% of the budget will be derived from its internal funding source and the remainder 80% will be loans from financial institutions, arranged by Bank of Ayudhya PCL and United Overseas Bank (Thai), it said.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Loma, I think you're being overly semantic to the point of being misleading...when you say TOT isn't expanding their 3G network.

TOT is expanding their 3G network... they regularly say they're expanding their network and regularly advertise exactly that... The fact that their vehicle for doing that is the Samart/Loxley consortium via contract is correct, but doesn't change the end result. TOT is preparing to offer and sell 3G services on its network in areas expanding beyond Bangkok.

There are some differences between the TOT/Samart hook-up and the CAT/True one, however, as best as I can tell...

In the case of CAT/True, while CAT plans to keep a portion of the expanded new network for their own re-selling to business or bulk customers, I haven't seen much/any indication that CAT is planning to retail that 3G service itself at the consumer level... That's being left to True Move H.

In the case of TOT/Samart, from everything I can see, it appears that both TOT and I-Mobile are planning to continue to market and provide their retail 3G services separately and more or less equally as their network expands beyond Bangkok.

Right now, if you look at TOT and I-Mobile's postpaid 3G calling/data plans, they pretty much mirror each other in terms and pricing... even though they're marketed separately, have different plans names, etc etc... I've heard/seen no indication that's going to change as they move beyond Bangkok.

[lomatopo]

Acting NBTC Orders Revision of True-CAT deal

On 28 September 2011, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered revision within 30 days of the 3G contract between the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) - one of the two major state enterprises engaging in telecommunication businesses - and TRUE - the third largest mobile phone operator in Thailand according to Mass Coummunications Organization of Thailand and as reported in the Bangkok Post.

The NTC made the order in its capacity as the “acting” National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), as the NBTC panel recently elected by the Senate is yet to be presented to and endorsed by His Majesty the King.

TRUE entered into the 3G deal with CAT earlier this year just after the THB 6.3 billion acquisition of Hutch, another mobile phone operator that provided services based on CAT’s CDMA platform, at the end of last year. This same CAT-TRUE 3G deal was also the starting point for ongoing legal battles between TRUE and DTAC, the second largest mobile phone operator according to the Thai language Manager On-Line

The NTC’s order runs contrary to the Attorney-General’s opinion four months ago that the CAT-TRUE 3G deal was in compliance with the law. The NTC concluded that the CAT-TRUE 3G contract breached anti-monopoly and unfair business practices regulations in the telecommunications sector, which have been in effect since 2006, and that the acquisition of Hutch by TRUE last year failed to comply with merger and cross-shareholding regulations. The NTC also ordered TRUE to rectify its allegedly unlawful shareholding structure.

It is uncertain what measures the NTC may take if CAT and TRUE fail to comply with the orders within the 30-day remedy period and if royal endorsement of the recently elected NTBC panel remains pending.

[lomatopo]

True Corp open to fine-tuning 3G deals with CAT in line with NTC regulations

THE NATION September 30, 2011 5:03 am

True Corp is willing to amend some details of contracts signed with CAT Telecom under their collaboration to develop 3G services to bring the deals into compliance with National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) regulations.

True chief executive officer Supachai Chearavanont said yesterday that the company respected the opinion of the NTC board and hoped to discuss details of the contracts with the commission further. He made the remark to a Nation Channel reporter yesterday.

The remark followed an NTC board resolution on Wednesday requiring True and CAT jointly to amend some details of their 3G service-collaboration contracts within 30 days of the commission's informing them of its decision on issues relating to its anti-monopoly regulations. The NTC, which is currently serving as acting National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), is expected to inform True and CAT of its decision on that matter this week.

Supachai added that according to the company's preliminary study of the NTC board's decision, the board did not order True subsidiary Real Move to stop providing the third-generation wireless broadband service, but only required True and CAT to amend some contract details to comply with regulations. The contracts are mostly in compliance and only a few minor details might need to be changed, he said.

more...

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

BTW, was there ever a publicly disclosed resolution of the Foreign Business Act violation allegations lodged against DTAC and Telenor by True???

As best as I can recall, it got to the point under the former government of one deputy minister wanting to pursue that case against DTAC and a top bureaucrat balking...

After that, as far as I can see, that issue seems to have dropped off the public map... Did I miss a round somewhere?

Meanwhile, CAT was continuing to say DTAC had no right to launch their commercial 3G services, while DTAC went right ahead and did so...pretty much ignoring CAT.

And now we have the legal wrangling over the CAT-True Move deal and whether it's legally valid or not.

And the NBTC panel has been voted by Parliament, but not yet seated because they yet to have a royal endorsement. So the NTI is acting in their place???

All this telcom stuff has the makings of a great Thai lakorn/soap opera....if only there were some scantily clad women involved...

Edited October 2, 2011 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[lomatopo]

TRUE-CAT 3G contracts

USANEE MONGKOLPORN

SIRIVISH TOOMGUM

THE NATION October 3, 2011 9:07 am

The voluntary joint amendments sought by the national telecom regulator to True Corp and CAT Telecom's 3G service collaboration contracts range from their exclusive use of 3G equipment to the bandwidth capacity CAT has to allocate to Real Move.

The board of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) passed resolutions last week that both have to jointly and voluntarily amend these details within 30 days to comply with its anti-monopoly regulations. If they fail to do so within the period, the NTC will issue orders asking them to do so.

The NTC board will convene this week to endorse last week's resolution before formally informing both of them to make the amendments.

The first amendment involves CAT's deal of leasing the High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) equipment from BKFT (Thailand), which is part of True Group. The clause states that CAT has agreed to lease the equipment and telecom towers from BKFT and BKFT has agreed to lease such equipment to CAT only. The other clause states that CAT has the exclusive right to benefit from the BKFT telecom towers that it has leased.

The NTC also wants both to revise some clauses in the 3G bandwidth capacity wholesale-resale deal between CAT and True subsidiary Real Move. The clause obliges CAT to provide sufficient wholesale 3G capacity at the agreed bandwidth to Real Move at all times to enable it to provide service to customers from the first day of the service debut throughout the contract period. The agreed bandwidth includes CAT's average network capacity and a maximum 80 per cent of network capacity Real Move is eligible to use during the first three years. The other clause is that CAT can wholesale the bandwidth left after wholesaling to Real Move to other parties but the deals CAT will grant them have to contain the same conditions as the CAT-Real Move deal.

more...

[lomatopo]

Thai 3G Plan Could Be Derailed by ‘Conspiracy,’ Wichian Says

October 02, 2011, 1:23 PM EDT

Oct. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand’s six-year struggle to sell licenses for third-generation wireless services may be derailed by politics, said Wichian Mektrakarn, head of the phone company founded by exiled leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Advanced Info Service Pcl, operator of the nation’s biggest mobile-phone network, and rivals Total Access Communication Pcl and True Corp. Pcl began offering limited 3G services earlier this year. Advanced is reluctant to invest more until the government auctions licenses and sets rules for operating the service, Wichian said in an interview in Bangkok.

“I believe there is still some kind of conspiracy, or some kind of movement to try to stop or delay 3G,” said Wichian, 57, who took over as CEO from Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister and Thailand’s current prime minister. “There are still a lot of obstacles. Anything can happen in Thailand.”

more...

[lomatopo]

Back to the future?

Oct 04, 2011

In Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit’s 2008 publication “Thai Capital’, the chapter on telecoms describes the passage of the Telecom Business Act in 2001 and the moves, according to that publication, by a former Prime Minister, to stall the formation of the first regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Its sister commission, the NBC, was in effect permanently stalled due to a variety of factors. The authors point to a patronage system for operating the sector, where interests connected with a government personality received better deals from the state than did others.

Picking up where we left off in April —the second part of the BRT story—much seemed to hinge on the election. Would the fresh mandate of a new government of any colour have the political will to effect the long awaited and necessary reforms, or would we continue to muddle through? Would a change of ruling party bring back interests associated with the sector which might undo some of the blockages? In any event, ironically in the period leading up to the election, a flurry of activity may have cemented some positions or created more vested interests.

DTAC, which had been trying for a long time to get approval from its concessioner CAT to trial 3G services on its existing 850 MHz spectrum, moved the pressure up a notch by complaining formally about unfair treatment. For while competitor, True, made a complicated deal with CAT after acquiring assets from the departing Hutch, which could have allowed True to offer 3G commercial services on an extended concession arrangement, DTAC was not even given permission to do trial services.

more...

[lomatopo]

TOT's 3G rollout running behind schedule

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

October 5, 2011 7:01 am

TOT's rollout of a 3G wireless broadband network across the country has proceeded slowly, which casts doubt on the timeline of installing almost 3,500 base stations in 18 provinces, including Greater Bangkok, by next month. The schedule calls for 4,772 base stations nationwide next year. A TOT source said only 40 per cent of the 3,458 base stations in the initial phase had been completed, due to the need to coordinate with other parties sharing the infrastructure. The TOT 3G network might cover all 18 provinces in November but with fewer base stations, the source said.

In May, TOT awarded the construction contract to a Loxley-Samart consortium, which has finished importing all the equipment for the project. TOT is aiming for 1.3 million 3G users of this new network this year and 7 million in 2015. That is up from about 200,000 on its existing 3G network in Greater Bangkok, which debuted in December 2009 and now has some 500 base stations. TOT is still waiting for its new board of directors to push ahead its plan to lease 3G capacity on the new network to firms that will retail the service.

The capacity-leasing plan has already been partially drafted but was halted pending the change of government. The ICT Ministry has sent the names of its representatives who will sit on the TOT and CAT Telecom boards to the Finance Ministry, which owns 100 per cent of both state enterprises. Panthep Chamrasromran, who reportedly has close ties to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been tipped as TOT chairman. TOT is pinning its hopes on the 3G-2.1GHz service to drive its revenue.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Actually, considering that TOT/I-Mobile 3G is only available in BKK now and since its inception, if they can expand to at least some service in 17 or 18 additional provinces by next month or even later this year, that would be a pretty good thing.... And I say that as one of their customers....

Considering that they only launched the expansion plan this spring, to add that much additional coverage in less than a year is moving pretty darned fast by Thai standards... And if I'm not mistaken, in terms of areas covered, adding that number of additional provinces served would put them well ahead of AIS and even farther ahead of DTAC.... even though those two comparatively tend to get the lion's share of all the media attention.

The list I have from TOT of those additional provinces to be served includes:

Bangkok Metropolitan area's three provinces plus Chonburi, Rayong, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani.

Edited October 5, 2011 by TallGuyJohninBKK