True Corp 4G Service ' Part Of Push To Be Market Leader'

[webfact]

TRUE CORP
4G service 'part of push to be market leader'
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- True Corp's launch of fourth-generation (4G) broad-band cellular service is not a marketing gimmick but a seri-ous bid to become the clear |leader in the mobile broadband services market, said True's chief executive officer, Suphachai Chearavanont.

He estimated there are around one million potential 4G customers in Thailand.

However, at present only a handful of the mobile devices available in Thailand are 4G-compatible. These include the Nokia Lumia 820 and 920 models, and the Sony Experia V. True is in talks with major smart-phone makers to get them to make more 4G-compatible mobile phones and tablets available here.

True's wholly owned subsidiary Real Future debuted its 4G and |3G services on the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum on May 8. Real Future holds a 2.1GHz licence from the

National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). It plans to roll out 2,000 sites on its 4G network in 15 major cities and 5,000 sites on the 3G-2.1GHz network nationwide this year. Its 4G-network equipment is solely provided by Chinese telecom-equipment supplier Huawei Technologies, while that used for its 3G-2.1GHz network was provided by Huawei and ZTE.

Real Future has allocated 5 megahertz of bandwidth out of 15MHz on the 2.1GHz spectrum to 4G service, with the remaining bandwidth allocated to the 2.1GHz service. Its other subsidiary, Real Move, provides the 3G-850MHz service under a partnership with CAT Telecom.

DTAC TO CASH IN

But it remains to be seen if True can achieve the goal of becoming the clear leader in the cellular broadband era. Advanced Wireless Network (AWN), a subsidiary of Thailand's largest cellular operator Advanced Info Service (AIS), officially debuted its 3G-2.1GHz service on May 7, while DTAC TriNet of Total Access Communication (DTAC) is expected to officially launch a similar 3G-2.1GHz service next month. AWN and DTAC TriNet are the other two of the NBTC's 2.1GHz licence holders.

DTAC will cash in on the huge bandwidth of its combined 1,800MHz, 850MHz and 2.1GHz spectrum bands to better serve data-hungry customers.

When asked which service True would focus on more - 3G-2.1GHz or 3G-850MHz - Suphachai said it would depend on the networks' coverage in a particular area. For an example, in an area with an extensive 3G-850MHz network, the company will focus its sales on that service.

True's 3G-850MHz service base stations are expected to total 13,500 nationwide this year, up from 13,000 sites at present.

Suphachai said the cost of offering 3G-850MHz service under the partnership with CAT, and that of providing the 2.1GHz service under the NBTC's licence are not much different.

Recently, True's mobile service group, excluding TrueMove, announced a target of 10 million customers this year, of which 4 million would be new customers and another 6 million will be those migrated from TrueMove, whose concession will end on September 15.


-- The Nation 2013-05-20

[lomatopo]

Suphachai said the cost of offering 3G-850MHz service under the partnership with CAT, and that of providing the 2.1GHz service under the NBTC's licence are not much different.

Oops. I bet he regrets revealing that detail in public.

[woodyleonhard]

Suphachai said the cost of offering 3G-850MHz service under the partnership with CAT, and that of providing the 2.1GHz service under the NBTC's licence are not much different.

Oops. I bet he regrets revealing that detail in public.

If that's the case - and I'm very skeptical - why did AIS, DTAC and True bid so much for the 2.1 GHz spectrum?

Perhaps he's planning on depreciating the new equipment very quickly?

[lomatopo]

^ He was comparing their CAT re-seller arrangement costs, with their costs associated with the new 2100 MHz 3G network; operating costs presumably rather than sunk costs. While TrueMove, AIS and DTAC all pay ~30% of revenue for concession business, he seems to be implying that they are paying ~ 7% to CAT. We probably shouldn't discuss any more details.

[drdoom6996]

I will never ever again become a TRUE subscriber knowingly. That company may own something I don't know about, but TRUE SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RBOP]

What a complete scam 3G/4G is in Thailand. The best packages you get 1GB - 5GB of data download at high-speed (7.1 to 42Mbps). After 1GB - 5BG limit the speed will be reduced to no more than 64 Kbps (DTAC), 128Kbps (True), 256Kbps (AIS).

The latter speeds are such a technological step backwards. How can the regulators allow this to happen.

[HerbalEd]

What a complete scam 3G/4G is in Thailand. The best packages you get 1GB - 5GB of data download at high-speed (7.1 to 42Mbps). After 1GB - 5BG limit the speed will be reduced to no more than 64 Kbps (DTAC), 128Kbps (True), 256Kbps (AIS).

The latter speeds are such a technological step backwards. How can the regulators allow this to happen.

Have you already had 4G service in Thailand? With what provider?

[Pib]

What a complete scam 3G/4G is in Thailand. The best packages you get 1GB - 5GB of data download at high-speed (7.1 to 42Mbps). After 1GB - 5BG limit the speed will be reduced to no more than 64 Kbps (DTAC), 128Kbps (True), 256Kbps (AIS).

The latter speeds are such a technological step backwards. How can the regulators allow this to happen.

Minor correction...DTAC FUP throttles to either 64Kb or 384Kb depending on your DTAC plan....my last DTAC postpaid plan which I got late last year FUP throttled to 384Kb and the new postpaid plan I switched to just a few days ago also FUP throttles to 384Kb. However, some DTAC plans do indeed FUP throttle to 64Kb.

[RBOP]

What a complete scam 3G/4G is in Thailand. The best packages you get 1GB - 5GB of data download at high-speed (7.1 to 42Mbps). After 1GB - 5BG limit the speed will be reduced to no more than 64 Kbps (DTAC), 128Kbps (True), 256Kbps (AIS).

The latter speeds are such a technological step backwards. How can the regulators allow this to happen.

Have you already had 4G service in Thailand? With what provider?

True have 4G packages.

[RBOP]

What a complete scam 3G/4G is in Thailand. The best packages you get 1GB - 5GB of data download at high-speed (7.1 to 42Mbps). After 1GB - 5BG limit the speed will be reduced to no more than 64 Kbps (DTAC), 128Kbps (True), 256Kbps (AIS).

The latter speeds are such a technological step backwards. How can the regulators allow this to happen.

Minor correction...DTAC FUP throttles to either 64Kb or 384Kb depending on your DTAC plan....my last DTAC postpaid plan which I got late last year FUP throttled to 384Kb and the new postpaid plan I switched to just a few days ago also FUP throttles to 384Kb. However, some DTAC plans do indeed FUP throttle to 64Kb.

ok.

I see True 4G offer 7GB data limits.

Its still a scam.

Edited May 20, 2013 by RBOP

[skippybangkok]

What a complete scam 3G/4G is in Thailand. The best packages you get 1GB - 5GB of data download at high-speed (7.1 to 42Mbps). After 1GB - 5BG limit the speed will be reduced to no more than 64 Kbps (DTAC), 128Kbps (True), 256Kbps (AIS).

The latter speeds are such a technological step backwards. How can the regulators allow this to happen.

Minor correction...DTAC FUP throttles to either 64Kb or 384Kb depending on your DTAC plan....my last DTAC postpaid plan which I got late last year FUP throttled to 384Kb and the new postpaid plan I switched to just a few days ago also FUP throttles to 384Kb. However, some DTAC plans do indeed FUP throttle to 64Kb.

ok.

I see True 4G offer 7GB data limits.

Its still a scam.

Obviously another expert . Name us one country where you have open ended 3G/4G price plans with no GB limits.

Check out the link w Telstra, bringing your phone, you cant even get a 3G price plan at the same price as 4G / 7 GB plan from True.

Their 1GB plan starts a 1,500 Baht.

FYI - if you have gone beyond your 7 GB, you can buy topping at x baht per day, or y baht per GB. Top as much as u want if your not happy with reduced speed.

http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/mobile-plans/every-day-connect-byo/#tab-plan-60

Waiting for Apple to open the carrier, and i will be on 4G !......

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

What a complete scam 3G/4G is in Thailand. The best packages you get 1GB - 5GB of data download at high-speed (7.1 to 42Mbps). After 1GB - 5BG limit the speed will be reduced to no more than 64 Kbps (DTAC), 128Kbps (True), 256Kbps (AIS).

The latter speeds are such a technological step backwards. How can the regulators allow this to happen.

Minor correction...DTAC FUP throttles to either 64Kb or 384Kb depending on your DTAC plan....my last DTAC postpaid plan which I got late last year FUP throttled to 384Kb and the new postpaid plan I switched to just a few days ago also FUP throttles to 384Kb. However, some DTAC plans do indeed FUP throttle to 64Kb.

Second minor correct.

AIS had a Powerpoint slide that I posted in another thread here recently indicating that their post fair use speed cap on their new 2100 Mhz 3G plans will be as low as 64 Kbps for their lower cost monthly plans, and then 128 Kbps for their more expensive plans. Edited May 20, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[RBOP]

OK. I'm not going to list every fragging plan they have.

[RBOP]

What a complete scam 3G/4G is in Thailand. The best packages you get 1GB - 5GB of data download at high-speed (7.1 to 42Mbps). After 1GB - 5BG limit the speed will be reduced to no more than 64 Kbps (DTAC), 128Kbps (True), 256Kbps (AIS).

The latter speeds are such a technological step backwards. How can the regulators allow this to happen.

Minor correction...DTAC FUP throttles to either 64Kb or 384Kb depending on your DTAC plan....my last DTAC postpaid plan which I got late last year FUP throttled to 384Kb and the new postpaid plan I switched to just a few days ago also FUP throttles to 384Kb. However, some DTAC plans do indeed FUP throttle to 64Kb.

ok.

I see True 4G offer 7GB data limits.

Its still a scam.

Obviously another expert . Name us one country where you have open ended 3G/4G price plans with no GB limits.

Check out the link w Telstra, bringing your phone, you cant even get a 3G price plan at the same price as 4G / 7 GB plan from True.

Their 1GB plan starts a 1,500 Baht.

FYI - if you have gone beyond your 7 GB, you can buy topping at x baht per day, or y baht per GB. Top as much as u want if your not happy with reduced speed.

http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/mobile-plans/every-day-connect-byo/#tab-plan-60

Waiting for Apple to open the carrier, and i will be on 4G !......

Thank you, you think I'm an expert. Telstra looks very expensive. I believe Verizon offer 4G unlimited plans, but I'm not an expert.

Edited May 20, 2013 by RBOP

[lomatopo]

I think you'll find that most mobile data service providers throughout the world have fair-use limits - this is necessary for reasons which should be quite obvious. Three to Five Gigabytes (GB) seems to be the sweet-spot. Obviously many markets already have robust fixed-line internet access - some of which also have Fair use caps (Comcast in the U.S. has a 250 GB cap) - so mobile data is used primarily for, well, mobile data, rather than fixed-line replacement. Gone are the days, circa 2009, where you could tether your iPhone (1) on TrueMove and download 80 GB.

Here in Thailand every plan may have unique fair use characteristics, so it's really up to the consumer to sort out what they might need, and what might an acceptable cap speed.

In the case of DTAC/Happy, they do offer the option, on some plans, of a 'power boost', whereby you can get an additional 1 GB for an additional 150 baht if you are unsatisfied with your FuP speed.

AT&T and T-Mobile, and their MVNOs, all have FuPs, or even hard-caps - over which you have to pay extra. I am not familiar with Verizon's plans but would tend to assume that they too have caps, except maybe at the top-most end/corporate?

Edited May 21, 2013 by lomatopo

[skippybangkok]

I believe Verizon offer 4G unlimited plans, but I'm not an expert.

Yep, you definitely not an expert, but have an internet connection which qualifies you automatically as a critic.

Basic plan for Verizon is $60 for 2GB, which is more than True 7GB plan which comes in at about US$37

I guess they are both still a scam ? ... Including telsta, voda phone, BT, Orange...

1. Unlimited plan were tried, tested and failed in Europe

2. Reason is obvious - the reason high end restaurant does not offer all you can eat plans. Don't need to be a genius to figure out is a formula for going bust.

As I said earlier, if your un happy with the limit, then you can buy more GB.

But its all an elaborate SCAM !

Edited May 21, 2013 by skippybangkok

[LuckyLew]

I think they should get their 3G service up and running properly to all Thailand

before they start spewing at the mouth about 4G

This guy must think he is in a better wired country like Laos or Cambodia

[HeavyDrinker]

Could someone please put this into non-tech terms for the rabble?

[lomatopo]

TrueMove H is offering potentially higher speed mobile data in select locations in Thailand.

This is called 4G or LTE.

If you have a 4G-capable phone, like an iPhone 5, you may wish to subscribe to this service.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Could someone please put this into non-tech terms for the rabble?

The bottom line is, as regards mobile data access in Thailand, everything is pretty much in flux right now, and it's too early to say how everything is going to shake out. Give it a few months to a year, and then we'll see for real what companies promise vs what companies deliver on their promises.

In non tech terms, all three major mobile players in Thailand (AIS, DTAC and True Move H) are launching a new flavor of 3G data on a new frequency band, 2100 Mhz, that they didn't operate on before. So that means installing new transmitters and/or reconfiguring existing one to operate on the new 2100 Mhz band, which all 3 companies recently received government permission to operate on.

It's all made more complicated that the major carriers are having to piggyback the new 2100 Mhz service on top of/in tandem with the prior 3G services they were already operating -- on the 850 Mhz band for True Move H and DTAC and the 900 Mhz band for AIS. Remains to be seen how well each of those companies will do at integrating all this and bringing their new networks online,

AIS and True Move H just "launched" their new 2100 Mhz 3G services this month (May), whereas DTAC is due to launch its service next month. That's why everything is pretty much up in the air.

Each of the carriers have 3G networks, but that doesn't mean they'll all provide the same quality or speed of services. That's going to depend on their technology, whether their networks are congested or not, how close to you each of the providers may have their transmitter, and various other factors.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

As I've said elsewhere, what all this probably also is going to do is expand the individual Thailand customer's range of choice in 3G data providers, which is a good thing.

That's because in the past, a lot of smartphones only had a limited choice of 3G bands. For example, AIS sold phones often came with the 900 and 2100 Mhz 3G band enabled in their hardware, meaning they couldn't be used with DTAC or True H 3G on 850 Mhz.

Likewise, DTAC and True provided phones often came with only 850 Mhz and 2100 Mhz bands enabled, meaning they couldn't be used with AIS 3G on 900 Mhz.

But now moving forward, anyone with a smartphone will pretty much have a device that is at least enabled for all 3 of the major carriers, since all will be running 3G on the 2100 Mhz band. And that band is probably the most common/universal band for 3G at present. Pretty much any smartphone sold anywhere that is 3G enabled will be enabled on the 2100 Mhz band.

[RBOP]

Skippy, no need to be sarcastic. I have the regular Dtac 2G package with unlimited data. I get 4Mbps up/down fot 599/month. It wont be long before these 3G/4G providers are going to court.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Pib]

Skippy, no need to be sarcastic. I have the regular Dtac 2G package with unlimited data. I get 4Mbps up/down fot 599/month. It wont be long before these 3G/4G providers are going to court.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Hopefully you meant 4GB/mo for Bt599. But if you meant 4Mbps download speed then you are on a 3G plan as max 2G speeds are down around 250Kbps.

[RBOP]

Skippy, no need to be sarcastic. I have the regular Dtac 2G package with unlimited data. I get 4Mbps up/down fot 599/month. It wont be long before these 3G/4G providers are going to court.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Hopefully you meant 4GB/mo for Bt599. But if you meant 4Mbps download speed then you are on a 3G plan as max 2G speeds are down around 250Kbps.

[skippybangkok]

Skippy, no need to be sarcastic. I have the regular Dtac 2G package with unlimited data. I get 4Mbps up/down fot 599/month. It wont be long before these 3G/4G providers are going to court.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Hopefully you meant 4GB/mo for Bt599. But if you meant 4Mbps download speed then you are on a 3G plan as max 2G speeds are down around 250Kbps.

RBOP - I will tone down the sarcasm, but you really need to work on putting some facts on the table instead of blurting out what ever feeling comes to mind which is basically slander.

I am positive you don't have upload / download 4 Meg, operators limit usage, not max speed unless FUP is hit. In addition 3G is typically asynchronous

I have been to many countries/places over the last 18 months, and I can tell you I had poorer service in many if them, including Denver and Paris.

There is no 'scam', its just you lack of understanding

Edited May 21, 2013 by skippybangkok

[lomatopo]

As people like to compare....

In the U.S., T-Mobile only launched LTE/4G - they previously marketed their 3G as 4G - in seven markets in March, 2013, so two months ago. AT&T - who also market 3G as 4G - is scrambling to deploy LTE/4G - as a result of spectrum redefinitions - but is in 182 markets. Verizon is the clear leader, albeit CDMA, in 500 markets. The handset dynamics are different in the U.S. where it is much easier to get LTE handsets into the hands of customers with subsidization.

At this point, here in Thailand, there just aren't enough LTE-capable handsets - the True exec mentions ~ 1 million and that might be a stretch - to warrant a much wider deployment than that which TrueMove (H) have announced. That said, those 1 million handsets are obviously high end models, like the iPhone 5, in the hands of customers who are somewhat price insensitive re: services, so I happen to think this is an effective use of the spectrum True have on hand. Other than potentially throwing 18 million (mostly pre-paid, very low ARPU) customers overboard on Sep. 15, 2013, they can utilize the vastly under-subscribed CAT 3G/850 MHz spectrum, along with the remaining 2100 MHz spectrum not used for LTE. Locking in high ARPU customers early on in the technology cycle, as they did with the iPhone and 3G back in 2009, is a potentially brilliant strategy.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Real Future has allocated 5 megahertz of bandwidth out of 15MHz on the 2.1GHz spectrum to 4G service, with the remaining bandwidth allocated to the 2.1GHz service. Its other subsidiary, Real Move, provides the 3G-850MHz service under a partnership with CAT Telecom.

Allocating one-third of their new 2100 Mhz spectrum toward the future 4G service is an interesting business decision. Guess they're figuring they won't soon have the customer demand to fill out their remaining 3G spectrum capacity???

Meanwhile, I've got an AT&T 4G/LTE capable Android tablet from the U.S. But as I look at the specs, it appears to say that (apart from various 3G bands) it also has 4G/LTE on bands 4 and 17, which look to be AWS (the 1700/2100 Mhz pairing and 700 Mhz bands, respectively

If I understand AWS for LTE right, it's the combination of the 1710 to 1755 Mhz frequencies for uploading data and the 2110 to 2155 Mhz frequencies for downloading data.

But what I can't tell is, is True's 4G implementation going to be compatible with 4G AWS or not???

[lomatopo]

Not.

AWS or 1700/2100 MHz or Band 4 LTE can be used on older AT&T LTE networks and newer T-Mobile networks (as a result of the Metro PCS spectrum, and some AT&T spectrum from the failed 'merger' I think) in the U.S. It could also be used with some providers in Canada (Rogers, Telus, I think), and maybe the odd other country here and there. 700 MHz is AT&T LTE in the U.S.

TrueMove (H) is deploying 4G/LTE here on 2100 MHz aka Band 1 so you're out of luck, except when you visit the U.S.

In theory the NBTC will auction 1800 MHz in the near future, and some may provide LTE service on that spectrum (Band 3). DTAC has an 1800 MHz concession until 2018, so could in theory deploy LTE on either/both 2100 MHz/1800 MHz.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Thank you, Loma... I was afraid that was the case...

[skippybangkok]

Allocating one-third of their new 2100 Mhz spectrum toward the future 4G service is an interesting business decision. Guess they're figuring they won't soon have the customer demand to fill out their remaining 3G spectrum capacity???

Agreed, but what is even more interesting is what happens as AIS migrates their mass to only 15 Mhz of 2100 MHz. It will kill it for sure.

I am not a expert, but my guess is you would need 30mhz to handle 10 million subs which is only a portion of their subs.

When they migrate >5m subs to their existing 15 MHz, you will start seeing congestion issues in key areas like Siam.