Thai 4G auction update - 50MHz cap imposed

Don Sambandaraksa
26 Mar 2015
00:00

NBTC Secretary-General Takorn Tantasit announced that a 50 MHz spectrum cap would be put in place for private sector bidders in Thailand's upcoming 4G auction and would take into account current spectrum.

Takorn said that he was confident that two licences of 12.5 MHz each on the 1800-MHz band would be up for auction.

Takorn also said he would make an application to the cabinet to ask to revoke the National Council for Peace and Order’s order delaying the 4G auction by one year to allow the NBTC to start work on the auction.

ICT Minister Pornchai Rujiprapa announced that the 900-MHz auction would be delayed because of certain preparations that would have to be made.

Pornchai said that he was considering the option of either carrying out an early auction of the 50-MHz of CAT-Dtac spectrum that will expire in 2018 along with the 25-MHz spectrum that has already expired, of whether the entire 50 MHz can be recalled and re-auctioned earlier with compensation paid to CAT Telecom.

Together the 50-MHz spectrum cap and the call for early return of 1800-MHz spectrum are aimed squarely at Dtac. Without the early return of spectrum, Dtac would risk being excluded from the auction.

One telco executive speaking on the condition of anonymity earlier told TelecomAsia that a backroom deal had been struck that would see TOT take 900-MHz in return for more 2.6-GHz spectrum. Pornchai’s vague reference to certain preparations in announcing that 900-MHz would not be up for auction this August would lend credence to that theory.

Meanwhile Jasmine has announced it would be joining in the 4G auction and has budgeted $769 million-$1.08 billion (25-35 billion baht) which will be raised through partnership with a strategic partner and the listing of its 3BB fixed-line business infrastructure fund.

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