NBTC considers hiring itu to prepare for spectrum auction
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) telecom committee will today consider the terms of re-|ference to hire International Telecom Union (ITU) as a con-|sultant to draw up the plan for auction of the 1,800-megahertz spectrum.
A committee source said that the committee would also assign the consultant to study the scenario if it auctions both the 1,800MHz and 900MHz at the same time.
Earlier, the committee had planned to draft only the licens-ing regulations for the 1,800MHz auction but last week the com-|mittee changed its mind by |concluding that the plan should cover the 900MHz auction as |well.
The 1,800MHz cellular concessions of TrueMove and Digital Phone Co under CAT Telecom will expire on September 15, while the 900MHz concession of Advanced Info Service (AIS) under TOT will expire in 2015. The telecom committee is in the process of reclaiming this 1,800MHz spectrum for reallocation.
Last week, AIS proposed to the telecom committee that it auction both the 1,800MHz and 900MHz at the same time.
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The same source added that the consultation fee is expected to be Bt25 million, the same fee it paid to consultant firm Nera for developing the licensing regulations for the 2.1GHz spectrum licensing plan last year.
The ITU will be assigned to work out the spectrum valuation focusing on the starting price of the spectra for the auction.
"The consultant will also be assigned to study the spectrum cap – the maximum spectrum slots in the auction each bidder can grab – and also study cases of 1,800MHz auction in foreign markets, and the benefit for Thailand from the auction," the same committee source added.
The consultant will also study how to create the pre-qualification process, auction methods and auction rules. The consultant is expected to take six months to complete the draft plan.
If the telecom committee approves the terms of reference to hire ITU this week, it is expected to take 14 months to finish all processes related to the auction of the 1,800MHz.
It remains to be seen if the |committee’s planned auction |of the 1,800MHz will proceed smoothly as CAT has wanted to keep this spectrum for a certain period to provide broadband cellular service.
Last week, the telecom com-mittee approved the draft pre-parations to take care of a |combined 18 million subscribers |of TrueMove and DPC after their concessions end. As part of |the draft, the authority that |granted the concession – CAT – will have a role in leasing the |existing network to a party to |serve the customers for one year. The committee will specify next month which party will be assigned to oversee these |customers.
