Thai regulator announces 2015 4G auction

Thai regulator announces 2015 4G auction

Capacity Asia day 1 – Thailand’s telecoms regulator has revealed plans to hold its 4G mobile spectrum auction in September 2015, after a one-year postponement by the military government.

Earlier this year, the military government said the delayed auction would be held in July 2015, but the NBTC has now confirmed that it will revise auction details in January next year, draw up a schedule in July, and hold the auction in September 2015.

The auction will focus on spectrum in the 1800MHz and 900MHz bands, and Col Settapong Malisuwan, vice chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), told reporters that the starting price could increase to reflect changing economic conditions.

Designed to better serve the data-hungry Thai population with improved telecoms infrastructure, the auction is also hoped to increase the country’s GDP.

Malisuwan added that the regulator will be responsible for allocating spectrum for the optimum benefit of both the industry and Thailand.

There are still several elements of the frequency allocation act (FAA) in the country that require revision by government, but the NBTC said it will move ahead with the auction in line with these amendments.

Don’t miss today’s panel session on the demands for data across the region at 12.00pm in the conference room at Capacity Asia.

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