The boss of Total Access Communication (DTAC) has decided not to take part in the re-auction of the 900-megahertz spectrum on May 27, despite strong interest expressed by two rivals.
Chief executive Lars Norling said DTAC has plenty of bandwidth to provide efficient 4G services.
The company is ready to roll out 4G services on an additional 5MHz of bandwidth on the existing 1800MHz spectrum by June, he said, bringing DTAC's total 4G bandwidth to 20MHz on the band.
DTAC's 4G service on the 1800MHz spectrum will be provided under the 2G mobile concession contract.
DTAC also has 15MHz bandwidth on the 2100MHz band to provide 3G service under a licensing agreement.
Mr Norling urged the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to bring the 1800MHz spectrum, now being used by DTAC, up for auction before the company's concession expires in 2018.
This should benefit the telecom industry, consumers and the country at large, serving development of the government's digital economy, he said.
A national strategic spectrum roadmap by the NBTC should be in place to ensure sustainable growth, said Mr Norling.
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said DTAC executives informed the regulator yesterday of its decision, citing the high reserve price as the main reason. The reserve price for the new auction was set at 75.65 billion baht -- the bid offered by winner JAS Mobile Broadband, which defaulted on its first instalment payment.
Mr Takorn said the move by DTAC would not affect the NBTC's planned re-auction, as even one bidder can clinch the licence under new auction rules. Mobile leader Advanced Info Service and third-ranked operator True Move recently picked up bidding documents for the re-auction.
Chakkrit Urairat, deputy director for regulatory affairs of True Corporation, said chief executive Suphachai Chearavanont will decide whether it will join the auction by May 18.