1,800MHz auction may be moved up

Settapong Malisuwan, chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)’s telecom committee, said the watchdog’s 2.1-gigahertz spectrum-management subcommittee had started considering the matter.

But he added that the NBTC would definitely not auction the 2.1GHz and 1,800MHz spectra at the same time; the 2.1GHz spectrum would come first. The 2.1GHz spectrum is used to provide 3G broadband cellular service, while the 1,800MHz spectrum is for 4G services. The cellular operators have proposed that the watchdog call bids for both spectra simultaneously to enable prospective bidders to more easily map out their future investment plans.

The watchdog will auction the 2.1GHz spectrum in the third quarter. TrueMove and Digital Phone Co (DPC)’s concessions will end in September next year, when their 1,800MHz spectrum blocks will be returned to the NBTC for reallocation.

It is believed that only existing local operators – with no foreign telecom operators – will join the auctions for both the 2.1GHz and 1,800MHz spectra.

Settapong said the watchdog must demonstrate convincingly to the public that its auction is not aimed at serving only incumbent operators.

He added that the NBTC would draw up an action plan for dealing with customers of TrueMove and DPC after their concessions end. TrueMove and DPC have around 17 million and 98,000 subscribers, respectively.

Recently, another 1,800MHz |cellular operator, Total Access Communication (DTAC), said it wants to return a 25MHz bandwidth block of its spectrum to the NBTC to auction along with those of TrueMove and DPC. This would enable the NBTC to make at least three 1,800MHz spectrum licences available for auction.

Settapong said the NBTC would first need to talk with CAT Telecom about DTAC’s proposal, as the state agency owns the DTAC spectrum, and will also need to check related laws and regulations.

DTAC’s concession expires in 2018.