Thailand's top mobile firms expected to win second 4G auction
BY KHETTIYA JITTAPONG

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's biggest mobile operators began battling on Tuesday for more fourth generation (4G) mobile spectrum in an auction expected to net at least $2 billion for a military government struggling to revive economic growth.

Market leaders Advanced Info Service and second-ranked Total Access Communication Pcl are expected to fiercely bid, and win, for the two licenses to prevent a newcomer from entering the $6.7 billion telecom market, analysts said.

The other bidders are third-largest mobile operator True Corp and broadband operator Jasmine International. AIS and True paid a combined $2.26 billion for the first set of 4G licenses auctioned last month.

Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-telecoms-4g-idUSKBN0TY0AL20151215


-- Reuters 2015-12-15

4G mobile licence auction kicks off today



BANGKOK: -- The planned three-day auction for two 4G mobile phone licences on the 900 MHz system kicked off this morning with four telecom operators competing.

They are Advanced Info Service, Total Access Communications or DTAC, True Corporation, and Jasmine International.

The electronic auction began at 7.00 am at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s head office under tightened security.

There are two licences for grab, each of a 10 MHz slot lasting 15 years.

The base price for each licence is 12,864 million baht.

NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith expected the auction would earn the government at least 27 billion baht for each licence.

The bid entered the ten round before noon with latest prices for both licences amounted to 34,744 million baht in total.

Market leader AIS and second ranked DTAC are expected to fiercely bid, and win, for the two licenses to prevent a newcomer from entering the 200-billion baht telecom market, analysts said.

The other bidders are third-largest mobile operator True Corp and broadband operator Jasmine International.

AIS and True earlier won the first set of 4G licences on the 1800 MHz spectrum in the auction last month.

But for today’s auction, AIS appears to be the clear beneficiary as the spectrum currently belongs to it under concession.

Furthermore, in the short-term there are no other low frequency substitutes for 900 MHz for AIS.

Therefore AIS will be the main operator interested in bidding for 900 MHz, causing the final bidding price to only increase slightly from the starting price, telecom analyst said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/4g-mobile-licence-auction-kicks-off-today


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-15

Could you please just fix 3G .......

before you start talk 4G

"There are two licences for grab, each of a 10 MHz slot lasting 15 years."

After 15 years, Cambodia and Myanmar will be already onto 9G....