True calls for equal access to 3G spectrum in NBTC auction

All telecommunication operators should be given a chance to grab equal blocks of the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum in the upcoming auction to ensure fair competition in third-generation cellular service in the future, True Corp chief executive officer Suphachai Chearavanont said.
He added that there should be a cap restricting each bidder to receiving 15 megahertz bandwidth of the spectrum.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will finalise the methodology for the 2.1GHz spectrum auction this month. It is most likely to decide to auction nine slots, each containing 5MHz of bandwidth. It will soon finalise the maximum total bandwidth each bidder can acquire, which could be capped at either 15MHz or 20MHz out of its total 45MHz bandwidth in the spectrum.
Recently the largest cellular operator in terms of subscription base, Advanced Info Service, said it was likely to go for a total of 15MHz bandwidth at the auction to enable it to serve more than 33 million customers efficiently.
Total Access Communication’s chief corporate affairs officer Darm Sukontasap said DTAC was keen to participate in the auction.
“We believe that the sooner the auction takes place, the more Thailand’s national competitiveness vis-a-vis its neighbours will be enhanced, especially with the implementation of the Asean Economic Community imminent,” he said.
“We would also like to see the auctions for 3G and 4G spectra taking place back to back. This would help Thailand to leapfrog to the 4G platform and catch up on time lost during the past three or four years,” he said.
Telecom auctions require long-term commitment and sizeable investment from interested operators, especially the commitment to upgrade constantly and bring the latest technology to consumers. Therefore, the auctions should be opened to all those who are interested, he said.

FAIR PRICES FOR CONSUMERS 
The greater the number of operators who participate, the more revenue will be generated for the state and the greater the choice for consumers, Darm said.
Fair and equal competition will help ensure that consumers have access to the latest technology at fair and reasonable prices, he added.
NBTC telecom committee chairman Settapong Malisuwan said this week that the regulator was considering auctioning the 1,800MHz spectrum to provide fourth-generation cellular broadband service after the auction of the 2.1GHz spectrum blocks in the third quarter.