NBTC Approves Trial Run Of 4G Cellular Broadband Service In Thailand

[webfact]

TELECOM

NBTC approves trial run of 4G cellular broadband service

USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION

The National Broadcasting and Tele-communications Commission has given approval to cellular operators to test fourth-generation cellular broadband service on the 2.3-gigahertz and 1,800-megahertz frequencies.

NBTC commissioner Colonel Settapong Malisuwan said the watchdog had approved a joint application by Advanced Info Service (AIS) and TOT to offer Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology 4G service on TOT's 2.3GHz spectrum on a trial basis. The state agency will use 20MHz of its total 64MHz bandwidth of the spectrum in the trial.

AIS and TOT will jointly set up 84 cell sites in Bangkok and some major provinces to conduct the testing. Under NBTC policy, they can try offering the service for 90 days, which can extended for another 90 days.

Settapong said the NBTC was waiting for CAT Telecom, Total Access Communication (DTAC), TrueMove and Digital Phone Co to apply for permits to test providing the 4G service on 1,800MHz.

AIS chief executive officer Wichian Mektrakarn said his company was likely to conduct a test of the service upcountry but declined to elaborate.

True Corp CEO Supachai Chearavanont said the company had asked for an NBTC permit to test the 4G service on 1,800MHz. True is the parent of cellular operators TrueMove and Real Move.

AIS, DTAC and Real Move have provided commercial 3G service on their existing spectra in major provinces. All have been waiting for the NBTC to auction licences to use bands on the 2.1GHz spectrum to provide 3G service.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06

[nowork114]

So it means that 5 years from now we may see 4G in Bangkok???

[Oberkommando]

Something about learning to crawl before you walk would be appropriate here.

[haveaniceday]

Isn't 3G still on trail here? Emmm, what 3G ?

[lovelaos]

Thailand is seriously lagging behind its neighbours. http://www.laopdr.com/

[RedNIvar]

So it means that 5 years from now we may see 4G in Bangkok???

That soon, wow. I'm impressed.

[Oberkommando]

Cambodia launched 4G back in November.

[Derifo]

So it means that 5 years from now we may see 4G in Bangkok???

I'll only believe it when I see it being used.

[sparebox2]

So it means that 5 years from now we may see 4G in Bangkok???

That soon, wow. I'm impressed.

More like 20 years.

[ricku]

Everything in Thailand is about money and saving face, but they just CAN'T save their face when it comes to mobile Internet.

[Chang_paarp]

Why do I see a new round of law suits and fights over who gets the money.

[janverbeem]

Must be that they ran out of tricks to delay the 3G licenses and just take it the easy way.

We're going for 4G right away and will skip the 3G licenses

[EvilDrSomkid]

Why do I see a new round of law suits and fights over who gets the money.

Especially since DTAC main shareholder, Telenor, has the most know-how on 4G of all local companies. I am frankly amazed that this is starting so soon.

IIRC, Norway had the first commercially operational 4G network in the world.

[infernalman7]

What's funny is that LTE isn't exactly 4G. It's still part of the 3G family.

True (pun NOT intended) 4G must be able to offer download speed of up to 1Gbps

[tragickingdom]

Thailand does not go 4G!

Thailand does not even go 3G like most countries in Dark Africa or like Cambodia did over a decade ago.

As long as fossils in the TOT and CAT are allowed to form a government within a government and are able to frustrate government policy by staying corrupt and allowing only their CP friends to benefit grossly, Thailand is stuck in a hardly working GPRS environment. hardly working because lots of areas do not even have GPRS coverage.

The elite has kept Thailand back for at least half a century.

[MrMuddle]

I'm on a supposed connection of 460 Kbps in Phetchabun. In reality, (when it works - it's down more than a Pattaya bar girls drawers), it's around 404 bps upload and download. I'd be happy if they could fulfill the 460Kbps I pay for, instead of seeing adverts night after night on TV, advertising all kinds of ridiculous speeds. Do they actually achieve the speeds they advertise, or is it just more bullsh*t ?

This lack of modernisation of the internet system, will cost Thailand in the end, as surrounding countries leave them behind, but "face' is everything here, isn't it?

[PaulHamon]

wish i could get 3g.

[MrMuddle]

Thailand does not go 4G!

Thailand does not even go 3G like most countries in Dark Africa or like Cambodia did over a decade ago.

As long as fossils in the TOT and CAT are allowed to form a government within a government and are able to frustrate government policy by staying corrupt and allowing only their CP friends to benefit grossly, Thailand is stuck in a hardly working GPRS environment. hardly working because lots of areas do not even have GPRS coverage.

The elite has kept Thailand back for at least half a century.

Ain't that the truth ! +10

[Jimi007]

Why do I see a new round of law suits and fights over who gets the money.

Exactly! TOT and CAT are both owned by the Finance Ministry. AIS is in bed now with TOT. What a surprise. I don't know why the NBTC thinks it has any say in what actually happens...

[visions]

Thailand does not go 4G!

Thailand does not even go 3G like most countries in Dark Africa or like Cambodia did over a decade ago.

As long as fossils in the TOT and CAT are allowed to form a government within a government and are able to frustrate government policy by staying corrupt and allowing only their CP friends to benefit grossly, Thailand is stuck in a hardly working GPRS environment. hardly working because lots of areas do not even have GPRS coverage.

The elite has kept Thailand back for at least half a century.

Ain't that the truth ! +10

The latest country corruption ratings were announced recently. New Zealand topped the ratings as least corrupt. Thailand was so far down the list of worst countries it wasnt listed, mixed in with the likes of Somalia etc......What chance of getting good cost efficient services in Thailand.???? .

[VictorOne]

Thailand does not go 4G!

Thailand does not even go 3G like most countries in Dark Africa or like Cambodia did over a decade ago.

As long as fossils in the TOT and CAT are allowed to form a government within a government and are able to frustrate government policy by staying corrupt and allowing only their CP friends to benefit grossly, Thailand is stuck in a hardly working GPRS environment. hardly working because lots of areas do not even have GPRS coverage.

The elite has kept Thailand back for at least half a century.

They are still just a banana republic and it will be aeons before anything changes.

[RogueLeader]

Britain hasn't even got around to auctioning the licenses. I'm seriously considering moving to Sweden just for the broadband.

[ThaiMouse]

Why do I see a new round of law suits and fights over who gets the money.

Sorry off topic, but I really do love those Sinnar Mono rail cameras. Reminds me of my pro photo days. Wonderful.

[thaigold]

So it means that 5 years from now we may see 4G in Bangkok???

2020 at the earliest.

[englishinsiam]

I get great 3G speeds in Pattaya in fact I rarely use my Wireless at home sticking to my AIS 3G as it's just as fast as my 20 Meg True ultra internet.

I'll happily trial 4G as my handset already supports it. You need to bear in mind most handsets aren't 4G compatible, and in that I mean any iCon from Apple.....

So imagine all those Poor Thai's scrimping to get the iCons overpriced crap. Not being able to get the full internet offered by their provider.

The first time I saw the HSPDA signal on my phone I was on Khao Yai it seems it was trialled on the quiet there first. That was Feb,March time this year.

[retell]

So it means that 5 years from now we may see 4G in Bangkok???

it means after 6 years i still dont get 3g so lets wait anoter 6 for 4g to happen?

[stormstereo]

Why do I see a new round of law suits and fights over who gets the money.

Especially since DTAC main shareholder, Telenor, has the most know-how on 4G of all local companies. I am frankly amazed that this is starting so soon.

IIRC, Norway had the first commercially operational 4G network in the world.

Yes, TeliaSonera (Swedish and Norwegian) launched the worlds first real 4G network (not LTE) in Sweden and Norway in December 2009. Here's a look back from December 2010: http://teliasonera4g.com/archives/298

[Toxane]

At least the 4G topic comes up, I like that.

[IsaanUSA]

At least the 4G topic comes up, I like that.

+1

I've tried WiMax on my Android phone in the USA and it is FAST.

[cowslip]

What a complete crock!