3G News & Developments

[lomatopo]

Not sure what to make of this vis-a-vis the 3G auction. Most expected the NBTC to relax stances on 'foreign dominance' thereby opening up the auction to potentially more bidders? But not sure how this word play might be decided by the judicial branch, if it comes to that.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Fresh-rules-against-foreign-dominance-due-30184691.html

Fresh rules against foreign dominance due

SIRIVISH TOOMGUM

THE NATION June 22, 2012 1:00 am

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission is expected to put revised regulations to prevent foreign dominance of telecom operators into effect next month. NBTC member Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn made the remark yesterday at the second public hearing on the draft of the revised regulations. The rules will require local telecom operators to determine their own measures to prevent foreign dominance and submit them for the NBTC's approval. In cases indicating a trend towards foreign dominance, the watchdog will require a remedy within one year.

Darmp Sukontasap, chief corporate affairs officer of Total Access Communication (DTAC), expressed his concern in the hearing that these rules might be exploited to affect the NBTC's planned licence auction for the 2.1-gigahertz third-generation spectrum.

[lomatopo]

CAT risks fines, suspension if too slow revising True 3G deals

USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION August 21, 2012 1:00 am

The telecom regulator has threatened to fine CAT Telecom or suspend its licence if it fails to finish revising its controversial 3G cellular contracts with True Corp within the next couple of weeks.

A committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has also extended the deadline by one more month from last month to complete its inquiry into whether BFKT (Thailand)'s operation under this 3G partnership breached Article 7 of the Telecom Business Act.

Takorn Tantasit, secretary-general of the NBTC, said yesterday that CAT was formally warned in writing last Friday about its delay in amending the contracts to comply with the Frequency Allocation Law. It also demanded that the state enterprise produce the revised contracts within 15 days after receiving the warning.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/CAT-risks-fines-suspension-if-too-slow-revising-Tr-30188721.html

[lomatopo]

Outlay for 2.1GHZ-3G unlikely

SIRIVISH TOOMGUM

THE NATION August 22, 2012 1:00 am

The upcoming auction for the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum and the subsequent capital expenditure to establish a third-generation cellular network are unlikely to affect the credit ratings of Advanced Info Service (AIS; "BBB+"/stable) and Total Access Communication (DTAC; "BBB-"/stable), according to Fitch Ratings' report on "Thai Telecoms - 3G Spectrum Auction".

While the financial leverage for the sector will rise, Fitch believes that the Kingdom's two largest operators have sufficient ratings headroom to absorb the impact of significant negative free cash flow.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will consider the revised final draft of the 3G licensing terms and conditions today. The majority of the 11 members are expected to vote to approve the draft, which will see the auction of nine slots of 5 megahertz bandwidth of the 2.1GHz spectrum.

Each slot features a reserve price of Bt4.5 billion. Each bidder can bid for a maximum 15MHz, down from 20MHz in the original draft. The NBTC is set to auction the spectrum by mid-October. There are expected to be only three bidders - AIS, DTAC and True Corp.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Outlay-for-2-1GHZ-3G-unlikely-30188799.html

[lomatopo]

Thai regulator wrong to fix 3G auction

August 27, 2012

A wise man once told me that many telco regulators do not understand their role. It is not that of a team manager, but one of an impartial referee. Last week, Thailand’s telecom regulator NBTC dropped a bombshell. The 3G auction rules had been changed at the last moment because it felt that the risk of a duopoly was too high. In other words, they changed the rules at the last minute to help the third-placed operator. It played team manager again rather than impartial referee, and showed a fundamental lack of faith in market mechanisms by simply deciding it had to fix the auctions coming up in the middle of October.

http://www.telecomasia.net/blog/content/thai-regulator-wrong-fix-3g-auction?Don%20Sambandaraksa

[Pib]

I expect the govt really wants AIS, DTAC, and True to get an equal sized piece of 3G bandwidth pie....gotta keep them all happy or one will file a lawsuit--and probably win the way this whole 3G goat-rope has played out over the last few years.

[lomatopo]

Court defers order on 3G auction

The Central Administrative Court yesterday deferred a decision on whether to accept a petition filed by telecom scholar Anupap Tiralap, seeking a court order to suspend the national telecom regulator's auction of the 2.1 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum slots scheduled for next Tuesday. The judges will consider the arguments by Anupap and the National Broadcasting and Telecommuni-cations Commission (NBTC) made during yesterday's hearing. Court officials yesterday declined to say when the judges would make their decision. The judges will consider two issues - whether to accept the case, and whether to consider Anupap's plea to issue an injunction. The court called an urgent hearing with Anupap yesterday.

NBTC commissioners Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn and Prasert Silphiphat also came to explain the case to the court yesterday. Suthiphon said he told the court that according to an estimate by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)'s cancellation of the 2.1GHz spectrum auction two years ago caused an economic loss of Bt153.9 billion, or Bt210 million per day, over the past two years. If this NBTC spectrum auction is delayed and the whole auction preparation process has to be restarted, which will take about eight months to finish, the economic loss would amount to Bt51.3 billion during these eight months, he said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Court-defers-order-on-3G-auction-30192208.html

[lomatopo]

Will consumers be the winners once the 3G dust settles?

A complete absence of suspense surrounds the auction of 2.1-gigahertz spectrum slots next Tuesday, despite eager anticipation of the 3G service it will bring.

Although the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) auction has yet to take place, the outcome has been easy to predict for a couple of weeks. The country's "big three" service providers are almost certain to run out winners amid a lack of competitive bidding.

The NBTC will call for bids on nine slots of the 2.1GHz spectrum, each containing 5MHz of bandwidth. Each bidder can clinch a maximum of three slots.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Will-consumers-be-the-winners-once-the-3G-dust-set-30192183.html

[lomatopo]

True Move H avoids phone number shortage?

Thai newspaper The Nation reports that Real Move, the True Corp subsidiary which provides 3G mobile services under the True Move H brand, has achieved a breakthrough in gaining additional phone numbers needed for its continued customer growth, as its network partner CAT Telecom has agreed to allow True to pay the state-owned telco’s overdue numbering fees to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). According to CAT and Real Move sources, the NBTC’s telecom committee this week decided to grant an additional 1.75 million numbers to CAT, which will pass on a large portion to Real Move, dependent on CAT paying its dues. The NBTC is reportedly expecting an official letter from CAT to confirm that True (Real Move) is funding the payment. True Move H currently has around three million HSPA 850MHz-based 3G subscribers and targets a total of four million by year-end, which would take it up to its existing maximum numbering capacity. CAT has withheld fee payments (and consequently number transfers to True) whilst its public-private 3G network partnership with True remains under state investigation.

[lomatopo]

Uh-oh. T minus 24, we got so close. That's right raise the auction floor and guess who ultimately pays.

NBTC under increasing pressure to raise 3G auction reserve price

USANEE MONGKOLPORN,

SIRIVISH TOOMGUM

THE NATION October 15, 2012 1:00 am

Besides the uncertainty over whether the auction of the 2.1GHz spectrum on Tuesday will be suspended by the court order in connection to consumer protection cases, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has also faced mounting pressure by many groups to raise the spectrum reserve price on a concern that the state coffer might gain less than it should have from the auction if it turns out to be a low-bidding competition.

The reserve price of Bt4.5 billion per spectrum slot, which was finalised in June, has been heavier criticised if it is too low when it is clear now that there are only three bidders pitching for nine spectrum slots and each is allowed to grab maximum three slots. The bidders are also believed to willingly pay high to win the spectrum to ensure that they would stay in the cellular business after the concession ends.

Last week activist Suriya Katasila said he and over ten of people network groups want to see the watchdog raising up the price to Bt6.4 billion per slot, which is the full value of the 2.1GHz spectrum slot of 5 MHz bandwidth as evaluated by the NBTC's working group on the reserve price, comprises a group of lecturers from Chulalongkorn University’s economics faculty. Like many parties, he is concerned that to auction the spectrum slot at the present price might make the country gain lesser proceedings than it should have. Suriyasai and the groups have also planned to petition for Central Administrative Court's injunction today (MON) to suspend the auction on ground that it might breach the law governing the anti bid collusion.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/NBTC-under-increasing-pressure-to-raise-3G-auction-30192331.html

[lomatopo]

3G auction set to go ahead today

USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION October 16, 2012 1:00 am

The country's long-awaited auction of the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum slots will go ahead as scheduled today after the Central Administrative Court rejected telecom scholar Anupap Tiralap's petition for an injunction to suspend the bidding. However, the National Broad-casting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is getting ready to deal with possible lawsuits stemming from its decision to go ahead, NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasit said. He added that people could take cases to the Office of the Auditor-General, the National Anti-Corruption Commission or to court if they believed the auction's outcome would affect public interest.

The auction will be closely monitored to see if it is competitive because many fear it may attract few bids and that this will result in a lower net return. A telecom analyst estimated that the three bidders - Advanced Info Service's subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network, Total Access Communication's DTAC Network and True Corp's Real Future - would end up offering only Bt15 billion to grab the maximum three slots allowed, given that there are enough slots available. Proceeds from the auction are meant for state coffers.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/3G-auction-set-to-go-ahead-today-30192374.html

[muratremix]

I still don't understand who will pay those extraordinarily crazy prices for 5 mhz? 4.5 billion baht is roughly 150 million usd.

In Turkey, government auctioned 45 Mhz, 35 Mhz and 30 Mhz bands in 2100 mhz spectrum for 358 million euros (45 mhz), 250 million euros each for 35 and 30 mhz. Time of lease is 20 years. There is no obligation to cover 80 percent of population in X years aswell.

Compared to Thailand, communication in Turkey is much more expensive and profitable. So I ask again, 1,35 billion usd (Thailand) vs 358 million euros (Turkey) cost of 45 mhz. And why the heck they sell only 45 mhz band in total? They plan to sell rest (65 mhz or so) for 4G in near future or what?

[lomatopo]

And why the heck they sell only 45 mhz band in total?

I think TOT currently "owns", and operates (directly, and via MVNOs and has a roaming agreement with AIS), 3G on the remaining 2100 MHz spectrum.

So there may be some incentive to both bid/win contiguous spectrum, and spectrum over/under TOT (for potential partnership).

I can't comment on the pricing, there are literally hundreds of sources comparing various auctions and results, so you can get a feel for historical spectrum prices from auctions, but that needs to be balanced against market potential. Considering the NBTC can pretty much mandate market (service) pricing the goal may to keep end-user pricing low, somewhat insure profitability, which may result in slightly lower auction results?

[muratremix]

I totally forgot *legit!* TOT 3G in 2100 mhz and 1900 mhz. It seems even with 15 mhz max. 3G band (so little, so annoying), they don't want a strong competition to TOT 3G.

[thaicbr]

I totally forgot *legit!* TOT 3G in 2100 mhz and 1900 mhz. It seems even with 15 mhz max. 3G band (so little, so annoying), they don't want a strong competition to TOT 3G.

Well. TOT have had the spectrum for about 2 years and done nearly nothing with it.. They ae a joke. Always will be.

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect App

[Sam Drucker]

Maybe someone can help fill in the blanks for me. I'm not totally tuned into the 3G/auction situation in Thailand, but I would like to have a basic working knowledge of it. I'm guessing part of my confusion is just based on poor journalism and poor translations I've been subjected to. The 2.1GHz auction is upon us, and much has been written lately. So here are my questions:

1) The news stories I've read seem to be written from a perspective that the 2.1GHz auction means we will soon have 3G in Thailand. I'm living in Khon Kaen, and we've had it here for over a year now. When I go to Bangkok, I have it there. Same in Udon Thani, and Korat. If I ride a bus to Bangkok, I've got 3G for maybe 35-40% of the journey. So why the excitement now? Why act as if 3G is something we don't currently have?

2) Does this 2.1GHz auction simply mean an expansion of 3G to regions (largely rural) that don't currently have fast data?

3) My understanding is that currently we are getting our 3G services from AIS, DTAC, and True on the 850MHz and 900MHz bands. If they later switch to 2,1GHz, what technical benefits will that bring, compared to what we already have on the 850/900MHz spectrum?

[skippybangkok]

Maybe someone can help fill in the blanks for me. I'm not totally tuned into the 3G/auction situation in Thailand, but I would like to have a basic working knowledge of it. I'm guessing part of my confusion is just based on poor journalism and poor translations I've been subjected to. The 2.1GHz auction is upon us, and much has been written lately. So here are my questions:

1) The news stories I've read seem to be written from a perspective that the 2.1GHz auction means we will soon have 3G in Thailand. I'm living in Khon Kaen, and we've had it here for over a year now. When I go to Bangkok, I have it there. Same in Udon Thani, and Korat. If I ride a bus to Bangkok, I've got 3G for maybe 35-40% of the journey. So why the excitement now? Why act as if 3G is something we don't currently have?

2) Does this 2.1GHz auction simply mean an expansion of 3G to regions (largely rural) that don't currently have fast data?

3) My understanding is that currently we are getting our 3G services from AIS, DTAC, and True on the 850MHz and 900MHz bands. If they later switch to 2,1GHz, what technical benefits will that bring, compared to what we already have on the 850/900MHz spectrum?

2100 Mhz will have better through put, which will be better in congested city area's. The down side is that its propogation is not so good, and as such when installed up country ( low tele-density ), it will require alot more investment as you will need far more sites to cover the same area.

850 should be used for Rural area's / lower population, 2100 in urban area's.

850 penetrates buildings better too..................

Telstra deployed 850 on Oz, i believe to ensure they could get good coverage, as it would be cost prohibitive to do country wide on 2100 mhz with a small population.

From a consumer perspective ( Bangkok ) it will benefit them alot. More spectrum, will covert into more consistent internet speeds and better service (i.e. less dropped calls ).

Edited October 16, 2012 by skippybangkok

[Sam Drucker]

Okay Skippy, thanks for answering question #3. Interesting about the lower propagation (shorter signal range from the towers) on 2,100. Any idea how much of a reduction in tower range/area of coverage using 2,100 instead of 850/900?

Edited October 16, 2012 by Sam Drucker

[muratremix]

Okay Skippy, thanks for answering question #3. Interesting about the lower propagation (shorter signal range from the towers) on 2,100. Any idea how much of a reduction in tower range/area of coverage using 2,100 instead of 850/900?

5km for 2100 mhz vs 15km for 850mhz. 2100 is clearly a loser. But in city, they need several basevstations to serve many people so 5km not a problem

[lomatopo]

Good news for consumers, hopefully the licenses will be issued as expected.

Thai 3G auction ends with tiny 2.8% premium

Don Sambandaraksa | October 17, 2012

telecomasia.net

Thailand’s long-overdue 2.1-GHz 3G auction concluded predictably with a paltry 2.8% premium over reserve prices realised, all from one operator, AIS.

Despite promises of an enthusiastic auction as bidders would race to be first to select spectrum, both True and Dtac bid the minimum $146 million (4.5 billion baht) per 5-MHz slot and only AIS bid a small premium.

The reserve price for all nine slots was $1.32 billion (40.5 billion baht) and the auction went for $1.35 billion (41,650 million baht).

The official results are due in three days and the licences to be issued within 90 days, though the NBTC has said they will issue them before the end of the year.

http://www.telecomasia.net/content/thai-3g-auction-ends-tiny-28-premium

[lomatopo]

"...the watchdog was urgently drawing up a condition to be attached to the licences stating that fees cannot exceed a certain ceiling..." Oy vey.

But the NBTC does appear to have a broad mandate, untested/unchecked judicially to date, re: fixing market prices/conditions, a la the 99 satang/min voice caps (not averages) for DTAC and AIS by year's end (Ture conveniently excluded ), the registration of all SIMs, and no expiration ever on SIMs Obviously untenable).

NBTC vows limits on 3G fees soon

USANEE MONGKOLPORN,

SIRIVISH TOOMGUM

THE NATION October 20, 2012 1:00 am

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has vowed to speedily issue regulations spelling out the maximum fees for 3G voice and data services provided under its licences to ensure that the three winners of this week's spectrum auction do not charge their clients high prices. NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasit made the remark yesterday during a ceremony to hand letters to the three bid winners - Advanced Wireless Network of Advanced Info Service (AIS); DTAC Network of Total Access Communication (DTAC); and True Corp's Real Future - officially approving the results of their bids at Tuesday's auction of 2.1-gigahertz (GHz) spectrum slots.

Jesada Sivaraks, the secretary to the NBTC's vice chairman, said the watchdog was urgently drawing up a condition to be attached to the licences stating that fees cannot exceed a certain ceiling, which the watchdog is in the process of determining. In parallel, the NBTC is drafting the main regulations that will permanently establish the charge ceiling for voice and data services for 3G licence holders.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/NBTC-vows-limits-on-3G-fees-soon-30192715.html

[Pib]

"Maximum" voice and data fees...another way to say price controls (not to imply such controls are good or bad) like diesel fuel not suppose to go above 30baht/liter; taxi meter initial fee of 35 baht; bus fares limited to XX baht per kilometer; palm oil, milk, etc., limited to XX baht per liter, etc. A lot of time price controls, excuse me I mean maximum prices, set by the government can just lead to all the competitors raising their prices to the maximum allowed by the govt with the exception of some teaser promotions good for a few months. But I will have to admit that price controls used for a lot of basic items in Thailand help to make some things cheaper.

Will be interesting to see how it works out...it's not like other countries don't also use price control mechanisms for some things like in the U.S. where price adjustments for home/auto insurance, elecrtric/water utilities, etc., normally have to propose a price increase to some state regulatory body who can disapprove, approve as requested, or approve with adjustment. Based on the generally pricey voice and data plan costs in the U.S. where it costs around $60-$90 USD plus approx 15% in taxes/fees with approx $40 just being for the basic voice plan/open the line costs plus tax but it usually does include unlimited voice minutes...and the remaining being $20-$50 to add a 300Mb to 5GB data plan plus tax.

Of course you can in a round-about-way lower the costs somewhat by using a Share plan where your minutes and GBs are shared with another device/person, but it's still pricey compared to Thailand IMO. Then you also generally have the approach in the U.S. where your phone is sold to you by the carrier you sign up with and also locked to that carrier under a 1 to 2 year plan contract which is effectively subsidizing the free or reduced price iPhone, Samsung, etc., that comes with the plan. Kinda makes it hard to compare plans in different countries unless looking at all the phone, voice, data, tax costs along with the contract period.

Yeap, will be interesting in how it works out.

[lomatopo]

Things have changed a bit in the U.S. with many, many, many more options. Straight Talk, both a AT&T and T-Mo MVNO has monthly, unlimited text, talk, and 3G (2 GB fair-use) data for $45. Remembering that one pays for both incoming and outgoing mobile calls in the U.S. I pay $2 per day with T-mo for unlimited talk, text and 2G, which is sufficient for my frequent, albeit short trips to the U.S. it is admittedly a bit more than here, but not all that much more.

I guess my comment was aimed more at the NBTC changing the rules after the auction. As I said, it appears that they currently have the mandate to fix pricing. I wonder why they haven't challenged True's TV monopoly? No need to answer, I think we all know why.

Edited October 20, 2012 by lomatopo

[lomatopo]

NBTC member defends 3G auction, rejects bribe talk

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation on Sunday October 21, 2012 1:00 am

National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) member Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn yesterday denied rumours that NBTC members were bribed to hold the 3G auction in a way that favoured existing business operators, saying the stories were spread by ill-intentioned people.

"I was a court judge for 10 years. I received the ... King Scholarship, I was a secretary-general of the Election Commission and I am a person of consistency. A single year here [at the NBTC] cannot change me," he said.

"I have my future ahead of me, I have my family to take care of, I don't have any reason to be corrupt or be bought. I have no financial problems. If I had any financial problem or wanted to make money, I wouldn't be doing this job. Please be fair to me. I know myself best; if I did anything bad, I would be ashamed," he said.

The NBTC has been criticised heavily since the 3G auction last week. The main complaints include the fact that the auction might have violated the state bidding law and that it might have favoured the existing industry operators. Suthiphon, one of the four members of the watchdog's telecom committee who voted to endorse the results of Tuesday's auction, said rumours had circulated that the nine NBTC commissioners who had voiced support for the auction's methods and rules were paid off. There are a total of 11 NBTC commissioners.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/NBTC-member-defends-3G-auction-rejects-bribe-talk-30192740.html

[lomatopo]

An interesting perspective, as always...not that there are three (3) pages

Vultures circle NBTC after 3G auction fiasco

October 19, 2012

Thailand’s regulator has defiantly approved the 2.1-GHz 3G auction with a 4:1 vote - despite almost universal criticism over the process - paving the way for licences to be issued within 90 days.

That is, if the commission is not suspended first due to a growing mountain of lawsuits and inquests.

As expected, commissioner Pravit Leesathapornwongsa voted against accepting the auction results, with the paltry 2.8% premium over the reserve price, saying it was an auction that was fixed by design and thus illegal under the public sector procurement act.

http://www.telecomasia.net/blog/content/vultures-circle-nbtc-after-3g-auction-fiasco?Don%20Sambandaraksa

[Sam Drucker]

So is this just politics? Or true corruption? Seems there are concerns that the auction was rigged to keep the prices low. However, before the auction I was hearing concerns that high bidding prices would have meant higher costs for 3G service to recover the high bidding prices. So who's blowing smoke here?

Sent from my GT-N8000 using Thaivisa Connect App

[lomatopo]

So is this just politics? Or true corruption? Seems there are concerns that the auction was rigged to keep the prices low. However, before the auction I was hearing concerns that high bidding prices would have meant higher costs for 3G service to recover the high bidding prices.

Probably something more akin to a learning process where some mistakes where made, or where some things could have been done differently. In hindsight, the NBTC probably should have had more public discourse in order to arrive at a minimum price that everyone might have found acceptable - maybe the oft-cited Chula/"Academic valuation of ~ 6 -ish billion? Perhaps a little "politics" for on the surface AIS probably needed this auction more than True or DTAC. There may have been some manipulation to insure that all three providers ended up with equal slices of the pie, which is not such a bad thing I think? I'm not seeing any corruption, unless of course the auction proceeds end up in someone's basement.

So who's blowing smoke here?

Sent from my GT-N8000 using Thaivisa Connect App

So who's blowing smoke here?

Most of the parties involved, except the service providers, are blowing smoke. Some ( Supinya Klangnarong) feel, genuinely or otherwise, that this is an example of the same old behavior, others probably like to be a thorn in the side of any progress and stay in the public eye, others want to defend the NBTC and the process. As with all things some/all probably have legitimate concerns.

[lomatopo]

Op-ed piece....

STOPPAGE TIME

Jury still out on 3G bidding 'farce'

Tulsathit Taptim October 24, 2012 1:00 am

Critics of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission might have missed the point. And so might critics of the critics of the NBTC. But it doesn't matter. It's our right to criticise and force the people involved to do something about it that counts. This is what differentiates today from the pre-NBTC era.

The fact that we all have been able to throw brickbats at the high-powered panel, forcing it to take steps toward protecting consumers' interests, is a far cry from many years ago, and we should celebrate it instead of just sitting around feeling grumpy. The 3G bidding was an eyesore at best, but it took place in plain view and was presided over by people whose skins are thinner than politicians. Under the circumstances, we couldn't have asked for a lot more.

The critics of the NBTC are either unsympathetic or too idealistic. The agency has had a big dilemma hanging over its members' heads. The 10 men and one woman are supposed to make sure that every single Thai benefits from TV and cellular signals, which are constitutionally designated as natural resources that belong to the country. That's a job description that's easy to write but damned hard to follow.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Jury-still-out-on-3G-bidding-farce-30192896.html

[lomatopo]

3G bid winners get down to competing on services

Usanee Monkolporn

Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation October 22, 2012 1:00 am

The three bid winners of 2.1-gigahertz (GHz) spectrum slots have begun preparing on many fronts to debut their 3G services.

The race for 3G supremacy has begun. Despite differences in their balance sheets and partners, all will launch their services in the equal regulatory landscape created by the licensing regime.

National Broadcasting and Telecom-munications Commission (NBTC) deputy secretary-general Pitjapol Jantanasaro said the three cellular operators have already begun talks on jointly expanding their mobile-number portability capacity, which currently caters to 4,000 customers per day. This will enable them to achieve quick migration of a large number of existing customers from the state concessions to their upcoming 3G licences. Mobile-phone number porting enables subscribers to their use existing numbers with the new networks they switch to.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/3G-bid-winners-get-down-to-competing-on-services-30192770.html

[Sam Drucker]

The three bid winners of 2.1-gigahertz (GHz) spectrum slots have begun preparing on many fronts to debut their 3G services.

The race for 3G supremacy has begun. Despite differences in their balance sheets and partners, all will launch their services in the equal regulatory landscape created by the licensing regime.

So it is still confusing why the media continues to write these stories as though 3G services in Thailand do not presently exist. True, DTAC, and AIS all offer 3G service on 850 or 900 MHz bands. While it is true that it is not universal coverage in Thailand yet, many population centers do have it now, and have had it for 1 year or more.

Any insights on why they are writing stories like this? Am I missing something here?

[lomatopo]

Any insights on why they are writing stories like this? Am I missing something here?

Sorry, what stories are you referring to?

All of the winners are preparing to debut their 2100 MHz 3G service as licensees

This is the first auction, and the first move into the license era from the concession era. Maybe that is what "these stories" are referring to?

Maybe you are just misunderstanding the wording?

Edited October 25, 2012 by lomatopo