3G Battle Set To Begin As Real Move And CAT Are Poised To Launch Service

[webfact]

3G battle set to begin as real move and CAT are poised to launch service

By Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

The 3G-service battle looks set to intensify as Real Move and its 3G partner CAT Telecom are expected to announce the launches of commercial 3G services today and Wednesday, respectively.

Advanced Info Service (AIS) is also expected to fully launch 3G-900 MHz services this month.

After the official launch of |Real Move's services, TrueMove |will stop providing 3G services to |its customers as these will be replaced by those of Real Move.

The launch stems from deals between CAT and True Corp's subsidiaries, Real Move and Real Future, to jointly provide 3G services. CAT will wholesale its 3G capacity for Real Move to provide services for 14.5 years at a spectrum of 800 MHz. CAT will also resell services, mainly to corporate customers.

Real Move has gradually switched around 800,000 subscribers of Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia's Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular services to its 3G service, starting with heavy data users. CAT has also switched 400,000 of its own CDMA subscribers to use its own 3G services.

Under CAT's 3G network plan, 671 base stations would be rolled out in June, with a capacity to serve 700,000 customers and cover 13 per cent of the population.

Next month, it plans to increase the number of base stations to 2,763, with a capacity to serve 2.5 million customers and cover 29 per cent of the population.

The number of stations will then rise to 5,326 in December, with a capacity to serve 5 million customers and cover 70 per cent of the population.

Meanwhile, AIS has rolled out 1,884 more 3G base stations in Bangkok and major economic provinces to enable it to quickly expand its 3G services on top of the 131 existing stations in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Hua Hin and Chon Buri. It has provided the services on a commercial trial basis.

AIS will soon roam its 60,000 customers on TOT's existing and upcoming 3G-2.1GHz networks to allow them to enjoy data services.

CAT and TOT plan to allow their 3G customers to roam between each other's 3G networks.

Total Access Communication (DTAC) is still waiting for CAT's permission to commercially launch the 3G-800 MHz service, a change from the present service offered on a non-commercial trial basis.

DTAC is expanding 3G services to cover another 400 base stations in greater Bangkok, up from 36 stations, in the hope of soon receiving permission for a commercial-service launch.

-- The Nation 2011-07-18

[eezergood]

Woohoo, but if only 4G exisited............

[kalbo123]

Where I am really hoping for is that DTAC finally will start 3G in Chiang mai, they are 1 of the largest providers, but still seem to run into legal problems trying to provide good service for their costumers.

[ricku]

Woohoo, but if only 4G exisited............

Yeah that would be sweet.

But give it 10 years. Im sure it will come around when the rest of the world has 5G.

Where I am really hoping for is that DTAC finally will start 3G in Chiang mai, they are 1 of the largest providers, but still seem to run into legal problems trying to provide good service for their costumers.

Yes DTAC is the best. But you see, DTAC is a foreign company and therefore evil. Of course it must be tackled and harassed on a daily basis.

Edited July 18, 2011 by ricku

[REM]

I can't believe we're still excited and reading about 3G. Why don't they just skip the old 3G, and go strait to 4G? All the other places are installing 4G, and we're seeing how the infrastructure here is so behind, even behind Vietnam! Well, in another 20 years Thailand will be halfway there!!! I only wish we could read about 4G here in Thailand in the not too distant future!

[fatfather]

Woohoo, but if only 4G exisited............

Yeah that would be sweet.

But give it 10 years. Im sure it will come around when the rest of the world has 5G.

Where I am really hoping for is that DTAC finally will start 3G in Chiang mai, they are 1 of the largest providers, but still seem to run into legal problems trying to provide good service for their costumers.

Yes DTAC is the best. But you see, DTAC is a foreign company and therefore evil. Of course it must be tackled and harassed on a daily basis.

Not 10 years but 14.5 years, that's the deal. - Tshaa tshaa

fatfather

[elcent]

I have a G 5 (Google 5) and a MS-NWO Beta 1, will that work? (sarcasmus intended)

[MaiChai]

Yawn, here we go again. Why can't they just get on with it. Its just the same old story of how things are done in this country. Why can't things be done in a fair and transparent way?

[hondajazz]

Why is Real Move use 3G 800MHz service? There isn't much handphone or smartphone using this frequency. While AIS is using 900MHz frequency I think all telco company should use the 2100MHz service for the shake of the users which nowadays 3G handphone and smartphone are now having WCDMA HSPA 2100MHz band. Before they standardized the same frequency band I would not buy any 3G service or any handset with different 3G frequency. It would be wasting money on buying them.

[Barin]

"CAT will wholesale its 3G capacity for Real Move to provide services for 14.5 years at a spectrum of 800 MHz."

It is not so easy to migrate from CDMA2000 to GSM 3G. They probably underestimate the timeframe and investments required to implement this crazy plan.

I understand that only 30% or 40% of the existing CDMA infarastructure may be reused (towers, antennas, cables, microwave links, RF spectrum).

The other 60% or 70% of the existing CDMA infrastructure equipment and software needs to be replaced with GSM 3G equipment and software (all base station transceivers, controllers, home location register, visitor location register, authentication center, radius server, all the software).

"Real Move has gradually switched around 800,000 subscribers of Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia's Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular services to its 3G service, starting with heavy data users. CAT has also switched 400,000 of its own CDMA subscribers to use its own 3G services."

Sounds like a bullshit to me. Do they mean that they have already replaced 800,000 CDMA phones with 800,000 GSM phones for Hutch CDMA subscribers? As far as I can see the Hutch CDMA network is still up and running as usual, all the Hutch network subscribers continue to use their old CDMA phones? In order to start GSM HSDPA service on the same frequency spectrum the existing CDMA base stations need to be shut down which may result in a lot of furious complaints from 800,000 subscribers of the current Hutch CDMA network. I am afraid both CDMA and GSM 850 can not coexist on the same frequency together at the same time.

"Under CAT's 3G network plan, 671 base stations would be rolled out in June, with a capacity to serve 700,000 customers and cover 13 per cent of the population."

Do they mean June, 2012?

I think they are talking about 671 base stations of the current Hutch CDMA network. This is a very small part of the Kingdom (yes, around 13% of all the Kingdom's population is concentrated in Bangkok, Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Huahin).

The process of migrating all 671 base stations from CDMA2000 to GSM HSDPA may take 12 months. This is not a quick procedure to implement.

"Next month, it plans to increase the number of base stations to 2,763, with a capacity to serve 2.5 million customers and cover 29 per cent of the population."

Now they are talking about CAT CDMA network, aren't they?

If they want to migrate the existing CAT CDMA network to GSM HSDPA network, that would be the craziest plan we can imagine.

First of all TRUE will have to buy this network. The Hong Kong shareholders will not agree to sell it below 7.5 Billion Baht, as I read on the news.

Then the additional amount of approximately 3 or 4 Billion Baht needs to be invested in order to migrate this CDMA network to GSM HSDPA network even with 40% of the existing network infrastructure being reused (towers, antennas, cables, microwave links, RF spectrum).

The timeframe of this project may well extend to 2 years!

Is it worthwhile?

"The number of stations will then rise to 5,326 in December, with a capacity to serve 5 million customers and cover 70 per cent of the population."

Do they mean December 2012?

-------------------------------------------------------

Edited July 18, 2011 by Barin

[dverwoert]

Samsung Galaxy S2

3G NetworkOperates on the following spectrums

HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100

"The launch stems from deals between CAT and True Corp's subsidiaries, Real Move and Real Future, to jointly provide 3G services. CAT will wholesale its 3G capacity for Real Move to provide services for 14.5 years at a spectrum of 800 MHz."

How will the new Real Move system provide service to True Move customers with these handsets?

[AgentSmith]

Bought a Motorola Defy a few months ago (in Thailand) and it supports 3G frequencies 850 and 2100 MHz. These bands aren't mentioned in the article. Nice!!

[rayw]

Samsung Galaxy S2

3G NetworkOperates on the following spectrums

HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100

"The launch stems from deals between CAT and True Corp's subsidiaries, Real Move and Real Future, to jointly provide 3G services. CAT will wholesale its 3G capacity for Real Move to provide services for 14.5 years at a spectrum of 800 MHz."

How will the new Real Move system provide service to True Move customers with these handsets?

Exactly. I switched to True Move two years ago when I got my first iPhone 3GS and have a package which includes unlimited 3G use. SO what will happen to me and other True Move iPhone customers. I assume that with the iPhone clearly being the top most capable smart phone out there will be capable of transceiving at the 800 Mhz frequency band too. If the flagship iPhones wont work on this planned band then surely nothing else will unless a bespoke phone was made available and that would be even too silly for Thailand. So does anyone have a definitive answer to this problem?

Just want to know what will happen for subscribers like me who are with True. Will I need to change providers again and if so I do want to keep my same telephone number as it is a real PITA to have to change it and notify so many people and companies?

Surely it is more important for True to have the 3G franchise than Real as True have I believe far more subscribers and a bigger organisation to cope with it and from what I read the old Hutch service was always pretty bad whereas True has been quite good overall, well certainly from my experience though I know of course that there are usually regional differences in quality of service.

[nikster]

"CAT will wholesale its 3G capacity for Real Move to provide services for 14.5 years at a spectrum of 800 MHz."

It is not so easy to migrate from CDMA2000 to GSM 3G. They probably underestimate the timeframe and investments required to implement this crazy plan.

Presumably they've been working on it for some time. 6 Months or so since the deal was announced? Not sure...

That said, no way I believe the number of customers "already migrated". I have CAT CDMA, seems to work fine in Chiang Mai, and haven't heard anything about switching to GSM 3G. So yeah - "1.2M customers have switched their CDMA devices for GMS devices" - complete and utter BS. I think someone would know about it if that were really true.

I imagine the haste with which this deal is driven forward is an attempt to create a situation that can't be reverted. Why would anyone revert the deal? Well the new government isn't a True-friendly government, so chances are something will suddenly happen. A lawsuit, everyone deciding it's illegal, something along these lines.

Looks to me like CAT and True want to establish an existing 3G customer base - the more they have, the harder it would be for anyone to shut down the service... pure speculation of course, but the only way this press release makes sense to me.

[nikster]

PS: 800MHz spectrum? That's quite bizarre... can't believe True could afford to just drop its iPhone customers... maybe they'll be permitted to continue running their 850MHz 3G "trial" now that they're paying off CAT?

Of course this might be less important if the next iPhone supports the exotic 800MHz 3G band...

[EODghost]

When I turn on my phone and see the 3G symbol, then I'll believe it. Until then, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

[dverwoert]

Found this information @ http://www.tomshardw...-analog-digital

"800 Mhz is used for analog and at least three types of digital service

in North America. 800 Mhz is commonly known as the "cellular"

standard in North America. Digital cellular standards presently in

use are CDMA (commonly Sprint PCS and Verizon), TDMA (cingular and

AT&T Wireless) and GSM (cingular and AT&T Wireless.) They refer to

GSM "850" but the reality is it uses the same spectrum as analog and

the other digital "cellular" frequencies. T-Mobile is GSM but only at

PCS 1900 Mhz frequency. There is also iDen systems which is digital

and uses 800 Mhz but is not really "cellular" but SMR."

I just spent a month in the US and used my Motorola Milestone by purchasing a SIM card from AT&T for $25 plus $75 for 1 month unlimited calls and SMSs. Plus 200MB internet service.

Edited July 18, 2011 by dverwoert

[janverbeem]

Strange but whenever I see a topic about 3G showing up on this forum I get that funny music playing inside my head....I started a joke, which started the whole world crying, but I didn't see that the joke was on me...................

[Lorin]

I noticed today my phone showing 3G service in Rawai/Chalong areas of Phuket, I am with AIS and used 3G in Hua Hin previously. Made a speed test and its only 200 kbps, so not better than EDGE...:-) They can proclaim it 3-4-5G but it wont change the fact that the speeds are still dial up here.. Will wait till the end of the month and make few more speed tests.

[muratremix]

Just saw an advertisement on CH 3, I didn't understand anything except True Move issan. It seems they are going to offer 3G in Issaan or what?

[wpcoe]

After the official launch of |Real Move's services, TrueMove |will stop providing 3G services to |its customers as these will be replaced by those of Real Move.

I currently have an iPhone 4 post-paid 3G package with TrueMove. So, what will happen, exactly? My service will be stopped and I will need to sign a new contract with Real Move?

[witsawakorn]

Woohoo, but if only 4G exisited............

Yeah that would be sweet.

But give it 10 years. Im sure it will come around when the rest of the world has 5G.

Where I am really hoping for is that DTAC finally will start 3G in Chiang mai, they are 1 of the largest providers, but still seem to run into legal problems trying to provide good service for their costumers.

Yes DTAC is the best. But you see, DTAC is a foreign company and therefore evil. Of course it must be tackled and harassed on a daily basis.

If some body tells me that a mobile phone service provider "still seem to run into legal problems trying to provide good service for their costumers" t just tells me that they provide a bad service and should beavoided. Any reason why you would think that DTAC would be harassed? Any supporting facts? Isn't AIS owned by TEMASAK/ Singtel? Foreign companies but AIS provide a good service in my experience. Perhaps they are protected by their T.S heritage

[skippybangkok]

I can't believe we're still excited and reading about 3G. Why don't they just skip the old 3G, and go strait to 4G? All the other places are installing 4G, and we're seeing how the infrastructure here is so behind, even behind Vietnam! Well, in another 20 years Thailand will be halfway there!!! I only wish we could read about 4G here in Thailand in the not too distant future!

Groan..... another pub telecoms expert......

[g00dgirl]

Real Move has gradually switched around 800,000 subscribers of Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia's Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular services to its 3G service, starting with heavy data users. CAT has also switched 400,000 of its own CDMA subscribers to use its own 3G services.

That also surprises me. I have not been offered anything and I am still using CAT CDMA as usual. So what deals were offered to those with CDMA hardware? Rebates, exchanges?

AIS has activated HSDPA on my base station yesterday. They are testing in Phuket now.

AIS will launch 3G in Phuket on July 28 on 900 MHz, 85 Base stations are to provide islandwide coverage.

The service will be offered in form of packages one can subscribe to, just like the current data packages, available for prepaid and postpaid SIM cards alike.

[g00dgirl]

I noticed today my phone showing 3G service in Rawai/Chalong areas of Phuket, I am with AIS and used 3G in Hua Hin previously. Made a speed test and its only 200 kbps, so not better than EDGE...:-) They can proclaim it 3-4-5G but it wont change the fact that the speeds are still dial up here.. Will wait till the end of the month and make few more speed tests.

You will get the 3G speed starting July 28. Until then the network will be only in testing mode here in Phuket, that means that the regular users will get only the throttled speed even though they already see the 3G/HSDPA icon on their device, the speeds might still be faster than the old EDGE speeds, that's what a representative of AIS explained at a meeting in Chalong on Sunday.

[Valentine]

I noticed today my phone showing 3G service in Rawai/Chalong areas of Phuket, I am with AIS and used 3G in Hua Hin previously. Made a speed test and its only 200 kbps, so not better than EDGE...:-) They can proclaim it 3-4-5G but it wont change the fact that the speeds are still dial up here.. Will wait till the end of the month and make few more speed tests.

You will get the 3G speed starting July 28. Until then the network will be only in testing mode here in Phuket, that means that the regular users will get only the throttled speed even though they already see the 3G/HSDPA icon on their device, the speeds might still be faster than the old EDGE speeds, that's what a representative of AIS explained at a meeting in Chalong on Sunday.

Actually speed tests conducted during the meeting were quite impressive.

[lomatopo]

I noticed today my phone showing 3G service in Rawai/Chalong areas of Phuket, I am with AIS and used 3G in Hua Hin previously. Made a speed test and its only 200 kbps, so not better than EDGE...:-) They can proclaim it 3-4-5G but it wont change the fact that the speeds are still dial up here.. Will wait till the end of the month and make few more speed tests.

You will get the 3G speed starting July 28. Until then the network will be only in testing mode here in Phuket, that means that the regular users will get only the throttled speed even though they already see the 3G/HSDPA icon on their device, the speeds might still be faster than the old EDGE speeds, that's what a representative of AIS explained at a meeting in Chalong on Sunday.

Actually speed tests conducted during the meeting were quite impressive.

So you've set up an APN for AIS 3G/900 Mhz? And you have an AIS 3G data plan?

http://www.ais.co.th/mobileinternet/3G_package.html

Edited July 19, 2011 by lomatopo

[lomatopo]

Adding...

For AIS it seems like they will have:

1,884 bases stations nationwide with 900 Mhz 3G of their own. Note that some of these are currently installed (fewer than 100 I'd guess) in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Chonburi, Korat.

Be able to roam onto TOT's 1900/2100 Mhz 3G network. This is currently ~575 base stations in metro-Bangkok (2100 Mhz), with an additional ~ 4,600 planned (financing already approved) for 2011/2012 in "14 provinces" on 1900 Mhz.

excerpt:

The upcoming network will be the second 3G network launched by TOT, who in December 2009 had announced 3G services using 500 base stations, as part of a pilot project.

The new network will involve 1,722 base stations installed in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, with another 1,686 installed in 13 provinces including Phuket, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

A further 1,314 base stations will be installed in Thailand’s 59 provinces by the end of next year.

CAT/True (Real/Future) will expand their 3G network nationwide with 5,230 base-stations in 2011/2012. These consist of:

~ 500 + base stations in Bangkok, Chinburi, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai on 850 Mhz.

~ 4,700 new base stations nationwide on 1,900 850 Mhz.

So for those buying new handsets choose you models wisely. A lot of new high-end hand-sets have 4 or 5 3G bands, and there are quite a few new models with either 850/1900/2100 or 900/1900/2100.

This is my current understanding of the 3G situation, which may be flawed and may be out of date by tomorrow.

In theory, the NTBC will auction 2100 Mhz 3G in 2012.

I've noticed a fair amount of additional base station construction in Bangkok over the past ~ 6 months so expect that once the 3G equipment is imported it may get provisioned fairly quickly.

Edited July 19, 2011 by lomatopo

[KKK]

All of this is just so much phooey. I'll ignore it all until I see headline

"DTAC launches 4G service countrywide"

Now that would be worth reading

[muratremix]

I'm sorry fellas but 4G is not really necessary. There is no network offering unlimited or speeds in 4G or near 4G speeds. Also, Thailand's International internet connections is not enough, so you can't feed faster than light 4G internet with these. If they can make 7.2 Mbit 3G working in densely populated areas, that is a success.