Who will provide 2G service in Thailand in 2016? I checked with AIS, DTAC and TRUE, none of these will provide service into 2016.

AIS previously stated that if they win the auction for 900MHz that they would like to provide partial 2G service once again in that band.

AIS has also planned to 'rent' spectrum from TOT to continue to serve existing/remaining 2G customers past their September 2015 cut-off date, but it is unknown if this will continue past the January 2016 cut-off date.

DTAC currently provides 2G service on 850 (10MHz) and 1800 (25MHz) via their BTO concession agreement with CAT that is scheduled to end in 2018.

Yes, it's all very very confusing.

And, though 2G is not specifically mentioned, for some interesting reading:

4G auction gets messy in Thailand

Telecomasia.net | Don Sambandaraksa | September 08, 2015

AIS previously stated that if they win the auction for 900MHz that they would like to provide partial 2G service once again in that band.

AIS has also planned to 'rent' spectrum from TOT to continue to serve existing/remaining 2G customers past their September 2015 cut-off date, but it is unknown if this will continue past the January 2016 cut-off date.

DTAC currently provides 2G service on 850 (10MHz) and 1800 (25MHz) via their BTO concession agreement with CAT that is scheduled to end in 2018.

Yes, it's all very very confusing.

And, though 2G is not specifically mentioned, for some interesting reading:

4G auction gets messy in Thailand

Telecomasia.net | Don Sambandaraksa | September 08, 2015

I asked the lady at the DTAC shop in Big C Pattaya Klang and was told, DTAC 2G was ending in December just like AIS. What is BTO?

Retaining 2G to 2018 is good for me.

Note sure why you want to stick with 2G, unless you can't or don't want to upgrade to 3G-capable equipment. Most of the operators WANT people to transition to 3G equipment as the higher communication rates allow them to serve more concurrent users in the same spectrum space.

BTO is an acronym for (Built-Transfer-Operate), basically a sweetheart deal where TOT and CAT provided tower space to AIS, True, and DTAC would install new equipment on TOT/CAT owned towers, operate/maintain the equipment, then transfer the ownership (including user accounts) to TOT/CAT towards the end of the concession.

Final 2G phase-out periods agreed in Thailand

TeleGeography.com | comms update | 2 Jul 2015

"AIS expects to oversee 2G customers until February 2016, which is the effective cut-off point for migrating its legacy network users after the frequencies are reallocated in the NBTC’s scheduled 4G 1800MHz/900MHz auction in December 2015. DTAC has roughly five million GSM-1800 users among its approximately 28.5 million total base, but is less pressed for time; it is thought to be aiming to migrate all legacy 2G network users before the BTO concession (issued by CAT Telecom) ends in 2018. As previously announced, third-placed mobile player True Corp and AIS’ tiny subsidiary DPC are allowed to serve remaining 2G 1800MHz users for an extended oversight period until January 2016."

Note sure why you want to stick with 2G, unless you can't or don't want to upgrade to 3G-capable equipment. Most of the operators WANT people to transition to 3G equipment as the higher communication rates allow them to serve more concurrent users in the same spectrum space.

BTO is an acronym for (Built-Transfer-Operate), basically a sweetheart deal where TOT and CAT provided tower space to AIS, True, and DTAC would install new equipment on TOT/CAT owned towers, operate/maintain the equipment, then transfer the ownership (including user accounts) to TOT/CAT towards the end of the concession.

Final 2G phase-out periods agreed in Thailand

TeleGeography.com | comms update | 2 Jul 2015

"AIS expects to oversee 2G customers until February 2016, which is the effective cut-off point for migrating its legacy network users after the frequencies are reallocated in the NBTC’s scheduled 4G 1800MHz/900MHz auction in December 2015. DTAC has roughly five million GSM-1800 users among its approximately 28.5 million total base, but is less pressed for time; it is thought to be aiming to migrate all legacy 2G network users before the BTO concession (issued by CAT Telecom) ends in 2018. As previously announced, third-placed mobile player True Corp and AIS’ tiny subsidiary DPC are allowed to serve remaining 2G 1800MHz users for an extended oversight period until January 2016."

Thanks for the 2G info.

My primary reason staying with 2G is that I have equipment (not a cell phone) that is only 2G capable and it will cost 10,000-20,000 baht to replace, maybe more. The equipment has been working reliably for years, so there is no reason change it, except for the disappearance of 2G. When I purchased the equipment, 3G wasn't available in Thailand.

On 11/2/2015 at 11:19 AM, cigar7 said:

I asked the lady at the DTAC shop in Big C Pattaya Klang and was told, DTAC 2G was ending in December just like AIS. What is BTO?

Retaining 2G to 2018 is good for me.

Yes, both DTAC and AIS are retaining 2G until the end of 2018.