Plan backs CAT, TOT wish to retain spectra
The Information and Com-munications Technology Ministry will submit the plan for expansion of the national telecom network for Cabinet approval by the end of the month.
Of particular note is that part of the plan appears to support the desire by CAT Telecom and TOT to keep their concessioned spectra after the current private concession terms end, to promote equal telecom-service access.
ICT Minister Anudith Nakorn-thap yesterday said that under the plan, TOT and CAT would have to utilise their combined 1,800-megahertz, 2.3-gigahertzand 2.6GHz spectra to provide cellular broadband service to areas inaccessible under fixed fibre-optic network coverage.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) wants to bring back the spectra of the two state agencies for reallocation once the private concessions using their spectra expire.
However, both agencies want to hang on to the spectra with a view to operating their own revenue-generating businesses.
CAT’s 1,800MHz cellular-service concessions to TrueMove and Digital Phone Co end in September next year.
Anudith added that as the spectra were valuable national resources, TOT and CAT should be supported in their desire to utilise them for the optimal national interest to provide an affordable service and improve people’s quality of life.
The minister also asked TOT and CAT to draw up complete spectrum-utilisation plans and to explain in detail why they wish to use the spectra, so that their intentions are absolutely clear if there is a continuing issue over whether they can retain them instead of returning them to the NBTC for reallocation.
Both state agencies will also work with the NBTC and the Council of State to clarify the legality of their retaining the spectra after the expiry of concessions.
Anudith said the national telecom network expansion plan would also serve the government’s One Tablet Per Child project.
He also instructed TOT and CAT to draw up their own telecom network expansion plans, including fibre-optic and cellular networks to cover the entire country.
Their network expansion will initially focus on 30,000 schools to serve the Prathom 1 tablet project.
Of that total, 10,000 schools can currently access the fibre-optic network, while the rest use a conventional fixed broadband network and iPSTAR broadband satellite signal-receiving terminals.
