ICT minister seeks ways to put unused portion of 1,800MHz bandwidth to use
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Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap will talk with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) this week to seek ways to allow CAT Telecom to use the currently unutilised 25 megahertz of the 1,800MH
“We’ve considered returning the unused spectrum to CAT, which would utilise it along with the 1,800MHz network assets to be transferred to CAT by TrueMove and DPC [Digital Phone Co] after the expiration of those companies’ concessions,” Anudith said.
After the concessions end on September 15, TrueMove and DPC will transfer the network assets to CAT, which owns their concessions. Anudith added that CAT needed the spectrum to operate a service on these network assets. The NBTC plans to auction the bandwidth now used by TrueMove and DPC in September next year.
The frequency allocation management panel of the now-defunct Post and Telegraph Department allocated 50MHz of this bandwidth to CAT, which in turn granted it to DTAC, which holds its concession. DTAC currently uses only 25MHz in the 1,710-1,722.6MHz and 1,805-1,817.6MHz ranges, while another 25MHz on 1,760.5-1,785MHz and 1,855.5-1,880MHz are unused. The DTAC concession will not expire until 2018. Anudith said the ICT Ministry also needed to talk with both DTAC and CAT on the right to employ this unused bandwidth.
However, it remains to be seen whether Anudith can accomplish his plan to turn over this unused bandwidth to CAT. DTAC chief executive officer Jon Eddy Abdullah said it should be included in the NBTC’s 1,800MHz spectrum auction in September 2014 for many reasons.
He said that to auction a total of 50MHz (the TrueMove-DPC bandwidth plus the unused 25MHz of DTAC) instead of only 25MHz would bring in more money for the state, would make the auction more attractive to outsiders, and would increase bidding competition. Most important, this would enable fourth-generation telecom networks really to expand and offer better service.
The 1,800MHz spectrum can be used to provide 4G wireless broadband service.
“We will work with the NBTC and the ICT Ministry to discuss how this could be done. We must also work with CAT on the issues and find a mutual solution. This would be a real win-win for all if we can find a way,” Abdullah said.
However, Anudith said this unused bandwidth should not be included in the auction as it could be used until DTAC’s concession ends.
