Thai regulator NBTC has resumed preparations for the nation's 4G spectrum auctions, which are now expected to take place in the second half of next year.
The NBTC will start revising details of the planned 900-MHz and 1800-MHz allocations in January and draw up a new schedule in July, the Bangkok Postreported.
While the Thai government is currently revisiting the terms of the nation's Frequency Allocation Act, which could impact the NBTC's authority to preside over spectrum allocations, the regulator still plans to conduct planning for the auction in tandem with the revisions.
Auctions for 900-MHz and 1800-MHz spectrum were originally scheduled to take place in stages starting in August this year. But the Thai junta ordered the auctions delayed by one year while the NBTC rethink its processes for issuing spectrum.
Private operators True Move and DPC were meanwhile given a one-year extension on their 1800-MHz holdings to give them more time to migrate their existing 2G users off the spectrum before it can be re-allocated.
The NBTC is consulting with the ITU over the terms of the 4G auction, including the ideal reserve price and number of licenses that should be allocated.