Ais Pushes Ahead With 900 Mhz 3G

AIS, the only incumbent telco with clear approval to go commercial with its in-band migration to 3G, has announced the roll-out of 1,884 900 MHz 3G base stations across the country.

In the initial phase, existing 2G customers can use the new network at speeds up to 384 KBPS at no extra charge with specific, higher-speed 3G packages to follow in early July, according to an unnamed source quoted in Prachachart.

Meanwhile, TOT’s CEO remained confident that the state owned telco’s 3G network would go live in 18 provinces by this November. TOT was reported to call 22 prospective MVNOs for consultation including incumbent 2G providers, but the report said that nothing had been agreed on. A committee to set up the criteria to select the MVNO has been set up and details are expected to be announced by the first week of July. Selection of the MVNO partners should be completed by the end of July.

Prapan said that no agreement had yet been reached on site sharing with current MNOs. He said that the contract length for the MVNO would not be good if it were shorter than six years as it would lead to lack of investment and if it were 10 to 14 years, it would be problematic as a long term commitment, not quite yielding any new information.

By Don Sambandaraksa

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