Dtac won't participate in 900-MHz re-auction

Thailand's Dtac has decided not to participate in the upcoming re-auction of 900-MHz spectrum due primarily to the high reserve price.

The operator has informed regulator NBTC that it does not plan to bid in the auction, the Bangkok Postreported.

Dtac will instead rely on its 20 MHz of 1800-MHz bandwidth held under a concession agreement due to expire in 2018. The operator also has 15 MHz on the 2100-MHz band under a 3G licensing agreement.

But Dtac CEO Lars Norling has urged the regulator to bring the 1800-MHz spectrum up for auction before its concession expires.

Rival operators AIS and True Move have both expressed a strong interest in securing the spectrum, and have both picked up bid documents for the June auction, the report states.

This is despite the military government's decision to set the reserve price at the 75.65 billion baht ($2.16 billion) bid by Jas Mobile Broadband before it defaulted on its first instalment payment, triggering the need to reallocate the spectrum.

• Dtac buys 900-MHz spectrum for $1.16b
• Dtac welcomes extension of 900-MHz bid decision deadline
• Thai 1800-MHz auction attracts just two bids
• Dtac confirms plans to participate in August auction
• Thailand forced to cancel 1800-MHz auction