Countdown to 3G bids
A countdown has begun to the third-generation (3G) spectrum auction, a milestone for the industry and the country's development, with service likely to begin in next year's first quarter.
- Published: 21/09/2012 at 12:00 AM
Yesterday's countdown event welcoming a new era in Thai telecom was held by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) at Impact Muang Thong Thani.
The countdown is aimed at stimulating public awareness of the benefits of 3G wireless service and declaring NBTC's readiness for the auction.
The NBTC has set Oct 16 as the auction date for 3G spectrum.
The auction will offer nine 5-megahertz slots out of 45 MHz of bandwidth on the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum.
The reserve price for a 5-MHz block of the spectrum has been set at 4.5 billion baht, and the auction will be an ascending-bid type, with each participant allowed to buy up to 15 MHz.
If successful, the leading three mobile operators _ Advanced Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communication (DTAC) and True Move _ say they will be ready to launch commercial 3G service on the international standard 2.1-GHz spectrum in Bangkok and major cities by next year's first quarter.
Somprasong Boonyachai, the executive chairman of AIS parent InTouch, said Thailand can no longer afford to delay the 3G auction with the Asean Economic Community set to arrive in 2015.
"If the 3G auction does not take place this time, then it could be a disaster for our nation," he said.
Mr Somprasong said AIS is ready to bid for a 3G licence.
He said 3G technology will drive the local telecom industry into a new wireless era and raise the country's competitiveness.
While he remained tight-lipped about the amount of investment in AIS's 3G network plan, the company earlier revealed it intends to spend 40 billion baht in the coming years to roll out its 3G network nationwide.
Darmp Sukontasap, DTAC's chief corporate affairs officer, said his company should be ready to launch its commercial 3G service in the first quarter of 2013.
Vichaow Rakphongphairoj, True's managing director and chief operating officer, also committed to a rollout of 3G service at that time.
He acknowledged the early launch of 3G service is expected to give operators an edge over their competitors amid falling voice-based tariffs and the introduction of mobile number portability.
Col Settapong Malisuwan, the NBTC's vice-chairman and head of the 3G auction committee, gave assurances that the online auction will be fully transparent, with no chance of collusion among the bidders.
As of last Friday, 15 companies from nine business groups had picked up 3G application forms.
They include three each from AIS and True Corporation and two each from units of DTAC and Jasmine Telecom.
The rest are BB Connect of the Benchachinda Group, the former owner of DTAC; Cable Thai Holding, a cable TV operator owned by Wichai Thongtang, a former lawyer of Thaksin Shinawatra; ACT Mobile, a subsidiary of TOT Plc; Jaya Soft Vision, a subsidiary of the telecom solutions firm JRW Utility; and Victory Motor of Yuthana Phothasuthon.
The 3G application forms will be available for interested companies to pick up until next Thursday and must be submitted by next Friday.
The NBTC will announce the qualified bidders on Oct 10.
Disqualified firms can appeal before the auction takes place.
The NBTC will announce the bid winners on Oct 22.
Share your thoughts
- Discussion 1 : 21/09/2012 at 06:38 PM
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Thailand does have 3G, but Thai-style (it is not the international standard because no licences have been issued). My Nokia receives 3G in every country I have used it around the world, except Thailand.
- Discussion 2 : 21/09/2012 at 05:05 PM
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D9: Too litte too late. I think the greedy technosaurs who have been holding up progress just to jockey for a bigger piece of the stale 3G pie, will get massacred by mobile operators from just about any other ASEAN country. That's when we as consumers will see real competition... hopefully.
- Discussion 3 : 21/09/2012 at 04:36 PM
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Last week I was offered a Samsung Note, brand new, for Baht 9,000, from Korea. Had to pass it, did not had 3G but only 4G. By the way the picture above this article looks like a game show on TV, why is everything always looks like children at play?
- Discussion 4 : 21/09/2012 at 03:44 PM
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"3G service next year?"
555555555555555555555 :-)
- Discussion 5 : 21/09/2012 at 02:49 PM
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Thailand still auction for 3G..ohh dear, very late
Singapore already have 4G
Philippines already have 4G
Myanmar has been on 3G connectivity in parts of Yangon
- Discussion 6 : 21/09/2012 at 02:41 PM
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3g has become the ultimate joke and the perfect showcase for our incompetence.
- Discussion 7 : 21/09/2012 at 02:11 PM
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Yes 3 G is not available everywhere, but is available in the cities where most of the people live that need and use 3 G. As for 4 G it's in the process of being tested. Again it will not help to have 4 G if 90% plus of the users still use 2 G and 3 G phones. Only the newest smartphones are 4 G enabled and that's not the phones owned by most Thai people. If 4 G was a immediate business opportunity companies like True and AIS would already have gone for it.
- Discussion 8 : 21/09/2012 at 02:10 PM
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Mod advice for a given reason: no 4 letter words! please post again.
- Discussion 9 : 21/09/2012 at 01:46 PM
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Wait a minute, how are the providers hawking 3G at every store in the malls when it isn't available in Thailand? I smell fraud!!!
- Discussion 10 : 21/09/2012 at 01:28 PM
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@ Discussion 8 (bkposter):
What are you talking about ?
When I travelled in Europe 2 years ago my mobile displayed “3G” all the time; in Thailand it still displays “GSM”.
- Discussion 11 : 21/09/2012 at 12:53 PM
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The failures, greed, corruption and damage to the country from this long delay are massive. Interesting that the key reason given by AIS for pushing forward with this now is their fear of ASEAN competition and not the benefits to the country of having 3g everywhere.
- Discussion 12 : 21/09/2012 at 10:40 AM
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RE: D4....actually 12 years later they have yet to settle it. They are still trying to cut the pie in a way so more government enterprises can rob money from the people.
In the mean time every company listed here has already been offering 3 G for a few years already, but not officially...wink wink.
- Discussion 13 : 21/09/2012 at 10:39 AM
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Oh, that's good news, better get ready with 4G too and .....(:
- Discussion 14 : 21/09/2012 at 10:02 AM
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A new era for Thailand, history for other countries.
- Discussion 15 : 21/09/2012 at 08:40 AM
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We all need to be more eco-concious - so it is good to see that the BP can do their bit by recycling headlines on an annual basis. Keep up the good work!
- Discussion 16 : 21/09/2012 at 08:37 AM
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The first commercial launch of 3G was by NTT DoCoMo in Japan on 1 October 2001.
Congratulations Thailand, you finally got on the bandwagon... 12 years after the launch. But we had better wait until next year and the actual launch before holding the party as these 3G announcements are getting a little Deja vu.
As for 4G... 5555555555555555555555555555555
- Discussion 17 : 21/09/2012 at 08:31 AM
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The old guard finally dragged screaming and kicking to the world of non copper wired communications. The stalling has cost the nation gazillions, but never mind, the few shareholders in the hard wired networks have had time to reposition themselves. I think I will see if the 3g and 4g network footprint leaks from Laos.
from iPhone application.
- Discussion 18 : 21/09/2012 at 08:18 AM
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Even with this, Thailand will find itself behind, not leading in the International World of hi-tech communication. Competition between countries is more important than within the country... please, wake-up my dear Thailand!
- Discussion 19 : 21/09/2012 at 08:16 AM
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Why not skip 3G and plan to go directly to 4G instead!
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