Bidders Air Concerns On 3G-Auction System's Reliability: Thailand

[webfact]

Bidders air concerns on 3G-auction system's reliability

Usanee Mongkolporn,

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Given that it will be the first 2.1-gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction in Thailand, most of the questions asked by the three bidders yesterday in a meeting with the industry watchdog about bidding details focused on the auction system's reliability and the back-up plan should anything go wrong. The auction is to be held Tuesday.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) met with representatives of the three bidders - Advanced Info Service (AIS)'s Advanced Wireless Network; Total Access Communication (DTAC)'s DTAC Network; and True Corp's Real Future - yesterday to explain to them the auction details. The watchdog has kept to its pre-auction schedule, unfazed by court cases hanging over its head and the threat of more cases to come.

NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasit said yesterday that the Central Administrative Court had yet to decide if it would accept a petition from telecom scholar Anupap Tiralap submitted on Thursday, seeking a court order to suspend the auction. Three similar cases against the auction have already been filed at the court, which will take them all into consideration before making any decision, Takorn added.

The NBTC will hold a mock auction today ahead of Tuesday's bidding. Well-known activist Suriyasai Katasila and 10 consumer organisations are reportedly expected to jointly seek the court's order on Monday to suspend the auction, citing what they view as a too-low reserve price of Bt4.5 billion per spectrum slot. Anupap wants the NBTC to suspend the auction, pending the complete issuance of key measures to bring optimal benefits to the population.

Most of the bidders' questions yesterday concerned what would happen if an error occurred during the auction; whether the NBTC has a manual back-up system; whether the system would record the bid results in all rounds; and whether representatives would be permitted to bring in thumb drives to record the results as evidence in case something goes wrong. They also asked what would happen if they placed a bid but the system failed to display their bids in the control room. Some asked what would happen if the clocks malfunctioned, given that each of them will have only 30 minutes to deliberate before placing each bid. They also asked about provisions for making an appeal if they placed a bid but the system failed to show it, making it necessary to prove later that the bid had in fact been placed.

A representative of the auction software service provider, Power Auctions, offered assurances to the bidders, saying the company has managed the successful design and execution of more than 100 auctions worldwide.

The NBTC yesterday said it would provide bidders with thumb drives to record the bid results and would have staff on hand to inform them in their bid rooms five minutes before the 30-minute time limit for making a bid expires. Earlier, the watchdog said it planned to seal the USB port slots in computers in the bid rooms for security reasons.

The representatives of Advanced Wireless at the meeting were led by AIS vice chairman Somprasong Boonyachai, AIS chief executive officer Wichien Mektrakarn, and AIS chief financial officer Pong-amorn Nimpoonsawat.

Those from DTAC Network were led by DTAC chairman Boonchai Bencharongkul, DTAC CEO Jon Eddy Abdullah and DTAC chief corporate affairs officer Darmp Sukontasap. Those from Real Future were led by True CEO Suphachai Chearavanont, True vice chairman Athueck Asvanund and True CFO Noppadol Dej-udom. The three bidders also brought their own auction consultants to the meeting.

Advanced Wireless will send 10 representatives, of whom three are Singaporean, to join the bid on October 16, while DTAC Network will send seven, of whom five are foreign executives. Real Future will send 10 representatives.

Among those present will be representatives of shareholders and strategic partners of AIS, DTAC and True.

Cedar Holdings and Aspen Holdings, controlled by Singapore's state investment arm Temasek Holdings, are major shareholders of InTouch, parent of AIS. InTouch's director from Temasek, Boon Swan Foo, will also attend the bid with AIS representatives. Norway's Telenor is DTAC's strategic partner, while Charoen Pokphand group is the parent of True.

-- The Nation 2012-10-13

[sjjmmi]

Singapore rolling out G4 i understand

[Thai at Heart]

Why does anyone need this palava. There are 9 slots and 3 bidders.

What odds they get 3 each

[jerrysteve]

Singapore is in fact rolling out 4 G...and in it won't too much longer after that, when 5G is available as well.Thailand cannot ever get their Act together!!!! The performance of the current 3G is less than what it claims to be.

Edited October 13, 2012 by jerrysteve

[zakk9]

Singapore rolling out G4 i understand

Even Cambodia is implementing 4G these days.

[jerrysteve]

Thailands sluggishness caused by their constant Debating, and Bickering and Greed is their ACHILLE'S HEEL.

Edited October 13, 2012 by jerrysteve

[asiawatcher]

Imagine even considering bidding in this three horse race - all they will do is figure out between them the bids, and then they pay the open 'bribe' so imagine how much money must be involved in the few years before they repeat the farce and go for 4G when the world will be on 6 or 7. T.i.T.

[Thai at Heart]

Imagine even considering bidding in this three horse race - all they will do is figure out between them the bids, and then they pay the open 'bribe' so imagine how much money must be involved in the few years before they repeat the farce and go for 4G when the world will be on 6 or 7. T.i.T.

It's a sham auction. They will probably all have a Skype chat during the auction on their 3g phones.

Surely a bidding like this should take a few days with closed envelopes etc. there are dozens of models around to get the desired result.

[mic6ard]

why is LOS still trying to get 3G working????? don't they know that people are already working on 4G tech??? Might as well skip 3G and go for 4G.

[hellodolly]

Sounds like the bidders have a pretty low respect for the auctioneer.

More than likely from previous experience with the NBTC

[reader]

Here in Sweden, yes were enjoying 4G, and very soon we will of course be implementing the 5G system aswell. I am just wondering will Thailand ever be ready ? One of the main complaints I hear from that country, is the unreliable and slow internet, which is now ranking one of the slowest in that region. Surely it would wiser to leap-frog straight to 4G. 3G technology is already obselete ... it's like picking a three-legged horse instead of four is it not ?

[Thai at Heart]

According to the other paper, there was a glitch in the trial.

3 teams, 3 rooms, and they can't even get that to work.

[hhiser]

Singapore rolling out G4 i understand

Laos is set to roll out G4 lte

[TheKrayTriplet]

Sounds like the bidders have a pretty low respect for the auctioneer.

More than likely from previous experience with the NBTC

You may want to note that the only (failed) 3G auction held before this one was organised by the the NTC. It failed mainly due to an injunction by the supreme court stating that the NTC did not have the authority and would have to wait until its successor, the NBTC was ready to hold responsibility for the 3G election.

The injunction was due to an allegation from the telephone companies themselves so it's hardly the NBTCs' fault.

http://www.zdnet.com/thailand-3g-auction-delay-bad-news-for-private-telcos-2062203232/

[McMagus]

Here in Sweden, yes were enjoying 4G, and very soon we will of course be implementing the 5G system aswell. I am just wondering will Thailand ever be ready ? One of the main complaints I hear from that country, is the unreliable and slow internet, which is now ranking one of the slowest in that region. Surely it would wiser to leap-frog straight to 4G. 3G technology is already obselete ... it's like picking a three-legged horse instead of four is it not ?

One of the reasons the internet is so slow is the degree of filtering and censorship by the government.

[bigbamboo]

Imagine even considering bidding in this three horse race - all they will do is figure out between them the bids, and then they pay the open 'bribe' so imagine how much money must be involved in the few years before they repeat the farce and go for 4G when the world will be on 6 or 7. T.i.T.

Bidding in a dodgy auction against just two opponents can often be problematic. Ask Pojaman.

[jerrysteve]

READER: In a nutshell is the powers that CANNOT WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME

. There are 3 types of people in this world... 1. People that MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. 2. people that WATCH THINGS HAPPEN. 3. PEOPLE THAT WONDER WHAT HAPPENED; thats Thailand.

Edited October 13, 2012 by jerrysteve

[dcutman]

Does any company offer even a decent dial up connection here? I would take it if they do.

[hellodolly]

They would be going for 4G now but the bribes for 3 G are all ready paid and they have no choice. By doig it this way they will be able to collect on 4 G when the rest of the world is on 5G. Simple logic greed, mathematics and graft

[jerrysteve]

asiawatcher: I wouldn't worry to much about the implimentation of 4G in such a regressive country as Thailand...coz it probably won't happen in your or my lifetime; perhaps after the next appearance of Haley's Comet; maybe and while waiting for that, the rest of the civilized world which has their act together will be on 10G.

[jerrysteve]

Waiting for the implimentation of "real" 3G to happen may take a while until its all sorted out. As far as 4 G is concerned, that may take another couple of turns of HALEY'S COMET to occur, but by that time the children of today will be great grand parents, while the rest of the civilized world who

has their act together will probably be on 30G. So I wouldn't hold your breath

[metisdead]

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