4G frequencies

[Anthony5]

I'm gonna purchase a new aircard that is 4G enabled.Instead of buying at rip off prices in Thailand I will order from Ebay at a 3rd of the price, there is only confusion as to what frequencies Thailand will use when they have the auction in 2035.

The 4G aircards support either LTE on 2100/2300/2600 Mhz or Lte on 1800/2100/2600Mhz, but so far I can't find any that support both 1800 and 2300Mhz.

Any suggestion which one I should go with?

I'm considering this one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Huawei-E3372-153-4G-LTE-150Mb-s-UNLOCKED-Any-Sim-/301594251244?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item46386b0fec

Edited June 17, 2015 by Anthony5

[RichCor]

According to a slide show / presentation

900

The NBTC expects to issue 4G LTE FDD licenses for two slots of 10 MHz for the 900 MHz spectrum December 15, 2015.

If no further delays arise, NBTC expects to issue the licenses for the 900 MHz spectrum in January 2016.

See **

1800

The NBTC expects to issue 4G LTE FDD licenses for two slots of 12.5 MHz for the 1800 MHz spectrum in November 11, 2015.

If no further delays arise, NBTC expects to issue the licenses for the 1800 MHz spectrum in December 2015.

2100

True Move H has successfully rolled out 4G LTE FDD service in the 2.1 GHz band.

True utilizes 10 MHz of its 15 MHz of bandwidth on the 2100 MHz spectrum to offer 4G.

DTAC currently utilizes 5 MHz of bandwidth on the 2100 MHz spectrum to offer 4G service, the balance of their license used for 3G.

2300

An LTE trial was approved on 2300 MHz by the NBTC. TOT partnered with its concession holder AIS to trial 2300 MHz LTE TDD in 20 MHz of its total 64 MHz allocation in the 2300 band. It is likely that the LTE network will be used for mobile backhaul for Wi-Fi access points and mobile cell sites.

2600

The 2600 MHz frequency band has been assigned to MCOT and is utilized for MMDS technology. However, MCOT, a broadcast company, is a not a 100% privatized company and a large part of its shares are held by the Ministry of Finance. UPDATE, April 22, 2015 MCOT has agreed to return its unused 60 MHz of bandwidth out of 144 MHz on the 2600 MHz spectrum.

*

The government has agreed with the digital economy panel's resolution to set aside other telecommunications spectra for 4G mobile phones apart from the existing 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectra. Some portion of the 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz spectra may be options.

TOT 64 MHz 2300 MHz 2400 MHz 2300 MHz (*TDD-LTE) TOT Plc, holds 64 MHz of the 2300 MHz spectrum, which is currently unused. The ICT Ministry and TOT are studying the possibility of bringing the unused portion of TOT's 2300 MHz spectrum up for auction in order to increase the amount of bandwidth. In exchange for the 2300 spectrum's return, TOT suggested to keep the 900 MHz spectrum that AIS has used to provide public telecom service for 10 years.

UPDATE April 18, 2015 – TOT will ask NBTC for permission to keep 20 MHz of its 64MHz bandwidth to provide services under the universal service obligation (USO) scheme. If NBTC declined its request, TOT would ask the National Digital Economy Committee to permit it to use the spectrum to provide 4G technology under the USO scheme.

**

AIS fully supports holding the auctions of 900 and 1800 MHz spectra as soon as possible. It currently provides 2G mobile service on 17.5 MHz bandwidth of the 900 MHz spectrum under a concession with TOT, which is due to expire in September 2015. AIS will participate in both auctions and hopes to win at least two licenses, one on each spectrum. If it gets both, as hoped, it will use 1800MHz for 4G. AIS expects to be able to start service 3-4 months after obtaining the license. AIS plans to split the 900 MHz in half with 5 MHz bandwidth for its 2G subscribers and 5 MHz for 3G, especially in the provinces.

***

NBTC has a policy of remaining neutral on how the spectra up for bid will be used, which means the winning bidders could utilize the bandwidth for 2G, 3G or 4G service.

A cap of 45MHz is set each operator. The cap will apply only to the spectra in use and those with a validity period of more than five years. It will not include ownership of bandwidth on the 2.3GHz and 2.6 GHz spectra

[Anthony5]

According to a slide show / presentation

900

The NBTC expects to issue 4G LTE FDD licenses for two slots of 10 MHz for the 900 MHz spectrum December 15, 2015.

If no further delays arise, NBTC expects to issue the licenses for the 900 MHz spectrum in January 2016.

See **

1800

The NBTC expects to issue 4G LTE FDD licenses for two slots of 12.5 MHz for the 1800 MHz spectrum in November 11, 2015.

If no further delays arise, NBTC expects to issue the licenses for the 1800 MHz spectrum in December 2015.

2100

True Move H has successfully rolled out 4G LTE FDD service in the 2.1 GHz band.

True utilizes 10 MHz of its 15 MHz of bandwidth on the 2100 MHz spectrum to offer 4G.

DTAC currently utilizes 5 MHz of bandwidth on the 2100 MHz spectrum to offer 4G service, the balance of their license used for 3G.

2300

An LTE trial was approved on 2300 MHz by the NBTC. TOT partnered with its concession holder AIS to trial 2300 MHz LTE TDD in 20 MHz of its total 64 MHz allocation in the 2300 band. It is likely that the LTE network will be used for mobile backhaul for Wi-Fi access points and mobile cell sites.

2600

The 2600 MHz frequency band has been assigned to MCOT and is utilized for MMDS technology. However, MCOT, a broadcast company, is a not a 100% privatized company and a large part of its shares are held by the Ministry of Finance. UPDATE, April 22, 2015 MCOT has agreed to return its unused 60 MHz of bandwidth out of 144 MHz on the 2600 MHz spectrum.

*

The government has agreed with the digital economy panel's resolution to set aside other telecommunications spectra for 4G mobile phones apart from the existing 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectra. Some portion of the 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz spectra may be options.

TOT 64 MHz 2300 MHz 2400 MHz 2300 MHz (*TDD-LTE) TOT Plc, holds 64 MHz of the 2300 MHz spectrum, which is currently unused. The ICT Ministry and TOT are studying the possibility of bringing the unused portion of TOT's 2300 MHz spectrum up for auction in order to increase the amount of bandwidth. In exchange for the 2300 spectrum's return, TOT suggested to keep the 900 MHz spectrum that AIS has used to provide public telecom service for 10 years.

UPDATE April 18, 2015 – TOT will ask NBTC for permission to keep 20 MHz of its 64MHz bandwidth to provide services under the universal service obligation (USO) scheme. If NBTC declined its request, TOT would ask the National Digital Economy Committee to permit it to use the spectrum to provide 4G technology under the USO scheme.

**

AIS fully supports holding the auctions of 900 and 1800 MHz spectra as soon as possible. It currently provides 2G mobile service on 17.5 MHz bandwidth of the 900 MHz spectrum under a concession with TOT, which is due to expire in September 2015. AIS will participate in both auctions and hopes to win at least two licenses, one on each spectrum. If it gets both, as hoped, it will use 1800MHz for 4G. AIS expects to be able to start service 3-4 months after obtaining the license. AIS plans to split the 900 MHz in half with 5 MHz bandwidth for its 2G subscribers and 5 MHz for 3G, especially in the provinces.

***

NBTC has a policy of remaining neutral on how the spectra up for bid will be used, which means the winning bidders could utilize the bandwidth for 2G, 3G or 4G service.

A cap of 45MHz is set each operator. The cap will apply only to the spectra in use and those with a validity period of more than five years. It will not include ownership of bandwidth on the 2.3GHz and 2.6 GHz spectra

Thanks for that, it looks as once again the Thais can not make up their mind as of which frequency they gonna use, but the device I'm considering has the odds at its side.

Next question 3G

I'm using True move 3G, and I know they transmit on both 850 and 2100Mhz. My current aircard supports both 850 and 2100Mhz, but the new one supports 900/2100 Mhz.

Is there a way to check on which frequency I connect to the 3G network at my location currently?

[Anthony5]

Ok I checked already that I'm connected to 3G on the 850 Mhz band Th 3G+, while I can receive 2100 Mhz True 3G also but the phone will always switch back to 850 Mhz., so I guess the dongle I had in mind will not be of much use to me.

[taotoo]

Once you've figured out which frequency you'll require, please let me know what set top box I'll need for the next world cup.

[Anthony5]

Once you've figured out which frequency you'll require, please let me know what set top box I'll need for the next world cup.

It's easy to figure out by yourself, just look at RichCor's post, I'm sure you can't get confused.

[bamnutsak]

3G 850/2100 will be more than fine for the foreseeable future.

http://www.telecomas...rturous-road-4g

http://www.slideshar...ion-in-thailand (See slide #10 for spectrum details)

http://www.slideshar...rmation-q1-2015

Edited June 19, 2015 by bamnutsak

[RichCor]

3G 850/2100 will be more than fine for the foreseeable future.

http://www.telecomas...rturous-road-4g

http://www.slideshar...ion-in-thailand (See slide #10 for spectrum details)

http://www.slideshar...rmation-q1-2015

Thailand's torturous road to 4G

That was a great read. Very blunt and covers the past and current mess of dealing with Thai bureaucrats.

Surprised it hasn't been 203.113.26.210'd.

[taotoo]

Once you've figured out which frequency you'll require, please let me know what set top box I'll need for the next world cup.

It's easy to figure out by yourself, just look at RichCor's post, I'm sure you can't get confused.

I figured out 'expects', 'likely', and 'delayed' ;-)

Not sure of the wisdom in preemptively buying something at this point.

[bamnutsak]

Not sure of the wisdom in preemptively buying something at this point.

Agreed, especially when said service might not been be deployed in the OP's areas. "Future-proofing" in Thailand is an impossible feat.

The smart move for Thailand would be to re-consolidate 1800 and then auction that spectrum, but that may not happen. Even if by some miracle auctions do occur, there will be blowback re: not high enough auction prices, and mucho court activity which will delay deployment. Maybe if there is ever a civilian government again we'll be on to 11G, robots, self-driving cars, implantable smart devices?

If you must have an LTE-capable device, and plan to use it in other countries during travel, then obviously buy one which meets those requirements. For Thailand, if you must, make sure it supports LTE/2100 (Band 1) and optionally LTE/1800 (Band 3), in addition to GSM850/1800, 3G/850 + 2100.

[Anthony5]

Not sure of the wisdom in preemptively buying something at this point.

Agreed, especially when said service might not been be deployed in the OP's areas. "Future-proofing" in Thailand is an impossible feat.

The smart move for Thailand would be to re-consolidate 1800 and then auction that spectrum, but that may not happen. Even if by some miracle auctions do occur, there will be blowback re: not high enough auction prices, and mucho court activity which will delay deployment. Maybe if there is ever a civilian government again we'll be on to 11G, robots, self-driving cars, implantable smart devices?

If you must have an LTE-capable device, and plan to use it in other countries during travel, then obviously buy one which meets those requirements. For Thailand, if you must, make sure it supports LTE/2100 (Band 1) and optionally LTE/1800 (Band 3), in addition to GSM850/1800, 3G/850 + 2100.

Indeed 1800 Mhz would be the best choice to deploy 4G, as it is the frequency that is available in the largest part of the country