NBTC plans 3G auction next year

NBTC chairman Thares Punsri said yesterday on the first day in office of the 11 commissioners, that the new watchdog would also urgently seek ways to back up communications in flood-hit areas.
Thares said the NBTC would also study existing drafts for spectrum-management, telecom and broadcasting master plans prepared by the now-defunct National Telecom-munications Commission (NTC) as it prepares to draw up new master plans – the platform for granting new spectrum licences.
He said the new master plans would not differ much from the NTC versions so the new licences could be granted quickly.
Thares said he realised that telecom operators have high hopes that the new watchdog can auction licences for third-generation wireless broadband on the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum as soon as possible.
NBTC vice chairman Natee Sukonrat, in charge of the broadcasting committee, said its urgent tasks were recruiting new staff and working out a plan to switch Thailand to the digital TV broadcasting era.
The body’s other vice chairman, Settapong Malisuwan, in charge of the telecom committee, said it would focus on solving problems related to telecom spectra and creating a new plan to use telecom networks for handling disasters.
As for the 3G licensing plan, he added that it would be complete as soon as possible.
Thares said the NBTC would coordinate closely with the Flood Relief Operations Command in Don Muang to provide communications channels to flood-hit areas. It has granted a signal-repeater device to Ayutthaya’s amateur radio operator club to enable it to widen its radio coverage.
Settapong said the NBTC would enhance such ham radio networks so they could be deployed to help areas hit by future natural disasters.
Cellular operators have also speedily repaired damaged base stations in flooded areas and provided backup communication systems to ensure people can use their mobile phones.
Advanced Info Service chief executive officer Wichian Mektrakarn said AIS had yet to estimate the cost of damage to its base stations. AIS has refilled Bt50 value free of charge to about 10,000 prepaid customers, mostly in Ayutthaya.
TrueMove CEO Supachai Chea-ravanont said the company had provided assistance to customers including free 30-day extensions to customers whose validity periods end but whose prepaid cards have value remaining.
According to DBS Vickers (Thai), the complete establishment of NBTC is a positive development for the telecom sector, as this is one of the most critical steps towards the auctioning of 3G licences. It is expected that the commission will take six to 12 months to complete the national frequency-allocation master plan before it can conduct a 3G licence auction, expected in late 2012 or early 2013.
The cellular operators are expected gradually to migrate their customers from existing concessions to the 3G licence to reduce regulatory costs. Currently they pay 25-30 per cent of their annual gross revenue as concession fees, while the licence fee is expected to cost them only about 6 per cent per year.
If they can get a 3G licence, this will also ensure that they will stay in business after their concession ends. TrueMove’s and Digital Phone Co’s concessions will end in 2013, while those of AIS and Total Access Communication (DTAC) will expire in 2015 and 2018 respectively.
  Urgent meetings this week
  The NBTC will hold urgent meetings from today (Tue) through Thursday.
Today: Meeting with telecommunications and broadcasting operators to seek measures to help flood victims. Its telecom and broadcasting committees will jointly meet to prepare frequency, broadcasting, and telecom master plans.
Tomorrow: Board meeting to prepare setting up of the NBTC office, the selection process for a secretary-general, and the administrative budget.
Thursday: Board meeting to prepare frequency, broadcasting, and telecom master plans.