The telecom regulator is pushing ahead with the planned 4G spectrum allocation next year, saying 4G licences could boost the telecom infrastructure to serve the government's digital-economy policy as well as increase GDP.
Col Settapong: Boost for telecom industry
The regulator will start revising all auction details for the 1800 and 900 megahertz spectrum in January and draw up a new schedule for the auction in July, said Col Settapong Malisuwan, vice-chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
Although several impractical sections of the Frequency Allocation Act (FAA) are being amended by the government that may affect the NBTC's authority, the regulator will move ahead with the planned 4G auctions in parallel with the amendment of the FAA.
The NBTC must be responsible for allocating spectrum for optimum benefit of the industry and the country in line with the rapid growth in data demand from both telecom and broadcasting, said Col Settapong.
Previously, the NBTC set the auctions for the 1800 and 900 megahertz in August and November, according to the Information Memorandum (IM) of the 1800 and 900 MHz allocations.
For the 25 megahertz of bandwidth on the 1800 MHz spectrum, the NBTC has allowed concessionaires True Move and Digital Phone to take care of their 2G mobile users for another year after their concessions expired last September. The 17.5 megahertz of bandwidth on the 900 MHz spectrum is now being used by Advanced Info Service (AIS), whose concession will expire in September 2015.
The NBTC hired the International Telecommunication Union to jointly study details and design the auction process, including the reserve price and the number of licences.
The IM of the 1800 MHz has had public hearings in April and approval by the telecom committee in May. It is still pending approval by the NBTC board.
The junta in June ordered the suspension of the planned 4G licence auctions for one year.
If the new IM of the 1800 and 900 MHz allocation passes all procedures including public hearings, approval by the NBTC board and the Royal Gazette announcement, the government can no longer put the brakes on the 4G auctions.