TOT looks to Softbank for 4G tie-up

TOT had previously intended signing a memorandum of understanding with SoftBank on a technical agreement, but the plan was delayed following the recent resignation of TOT’s board.
The agency plans to utilise its existing 64 megahertz bandwidth under the 2.3-gigahertz spectrum to provide 4G service, using long-term evolution time-division duplex (LTE-TDD) technology.
SoftBank is a leader in 4G LTE-TDD in Japan, using the 2.5GHz spectrum. It also provides 4G service on frequency division duplex (FDD) LTE technology on both the 2.1GHz and 1.7GHz spectra.
The company is eyeing TOT as its focus partner in Thailand in the near future, Junichi Miyakawa, chief technology officer of SoftBank Mobile, said yesterday.
TOT also plans to seek approval from the Information and Com-munications Technology Ministry to use its 2.3GHz spectrum to expand broadband access service and serve the government’s policy of providing equal access countrywide.
The spectrum would be used to provide the transmission link to expand its Wi-Fi Internet access service and test the provision of 4G service.
TOT has to request the ministry’s approval because its licence under the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Com-mission permits it to use the spectrum only for providing public telephone service in remote areas. It will also ask for the NBTC’s permission to press ahead, provided the ministry approves the request.
TOT wants to provide 4G |service to differentiate itself from the three winners of 3G-2.1GHz spectrum slots – Advanced Info Service’s Advanced Wireless Network, Total Access Com-munication’s DTAC Network and True Corp’s Real Future – each of which clinched 15MHz of bandwidth at last week’s NBTC auction.
TOT started providing 3G-2.1GHz service a number of years ago, but only has about 200,000 3G subscribers at present. It has also failed to expand its 2.1GHz network nationwide, because of difficulty in seeking locations for network hardware, especially in built-up areas.
The state agency will have to delay the schedule for the completely establishemtn of 5,320 base stations for 2.1GHz nationwide to the first quarter next year, from the original target of this year, because of difficulty in seeking co-siting of the stations with telecom operators. Some 3,000 have been set up to date.
It expects to generate revenue of Bt1.4 billion from 2.1GHz service next year.

TEST-EQUIPMENT MARKET
Meanwhile, the wireless test-equipment market in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand is expected to grow at a double-digit rate owing to the rapid commercialisation of 4G cellular wireless standards and the increasing number of 3G network deployments, according to new analysis from research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.
 The proliferation of smart mobile devices has led to higher wireless data usage, affecting the traffic mix on networks. Therefore, test-equipment vendors are looking to offer compatible testing solutions aimed at helping service providers manage their |systems more intelligently, the company said.
The analysis found that the combined Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand market had earned revenues of more than US$312.8 million (Bt9.6 billion) last year.
Market value is estimated to reach $921.1 million in 2017.
In emerging economies with high-growth gross domestic product and an expanding population, upgrading 3G technology and commercialising future time-division long-term evolution (TD-LTE) and 4G networks is critical to overcoming data traffic problems. However, the increased complexity of testing the network poses a challenge to solution providers, said Frost & Sullivan.
“As LTE technology is quickly moving toward deployment, it brings with it a new layer of complexity and challenges that require immediate attention,” said Nguyen Huong, consulting analyst at the company. “It is important to test for quality of service and experience when the speed of data transmission varies.”
The market, therefore, relies heavily on the capital expenditure of service providers, which account for 60 per cent of the demand for test equipment in the region. As a result, operators favour in-house solutions to meet their testing needs, impeding market growth, the analyst added.