AIS claims it will have the best 3G network in 2014
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ADVANCED INFO Service is confident that it will boast the best 3G network by next year, just like its 2G network is perceived by the public as No 1.
Somchai Lertsutiwong, chief marketing officer, said last week that AIS’ 3G network service would be superior to its rivals next year.
CEO Wichian Mektrakarn said AIS will have rolled out 22,000 3G-2.1GHz network sites by the end of next year, more than doubling the 10,000 sites expected to be installed by the end of this year.
AIS has set aside a network expansion budget of Bt70 billion for 2013-15, almost all for the 2.1GHz nationwide network. If needed, the budget can be topped up during the period.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) last December awarded 2.1GHz licences to three bid winners – Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) of AIS, dtac TriNet of Total Access Communication (DTAC) and Real Future of True Corp. Each licence is good for 15MHz of bandwidth.
Last quarter, AWN’s 2.1GHz network achieved 70-per-cent coverage of more than 77 provinces. Its milestones are to reach 90 per cent of the population by 2014 and 97 per cent by 2015.
Of the total budget, about Bt19 billion was spent during the first nine months of this year. While AWN has only the 2.1GHz frequency to provide 3G service, True and DTAC also have the 850MHz frequency to provide 3G. Real Future has provided both 3G and 4G on 2.1GHz, while DTAC is seeking permits from state authorities to use 25MHz of idle bandwidth from its 1800MHz frequency to offer 4G.
Wichian said AIS has experience in maximising limited bandwidth to provide a quality service to customers.
AIS has only 17.5MHz of bandwidth on its 2G-900MHz frequency but was still able to serve 34 million 2G users.
DTAC TriNet recently achieved 50-per-cent coverage nationwide with its 2.1GHz network and will increase this by 5 percentage points this year.
Its capital expenditure plan for 2013-15 aims for 80-per-cent coverage for the 2.1GHz, network, according to its filing of third-quarter results to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
DTAC believes its three networks – 2G-1800MHz, 3G-850MHz and new 3G 2.1GHz – can provide the best customer experience.
CEO Jon Eddy Abdullah said DTAC is working out its 2.1GHz network rollout plan for next year and would disclose it after the board gives it the go-ahead.
Real Future would finish this year with 5,000 2.1G sites and 14,000 850MHz sites.
True has yet to reveal a network development plan for next year, pending the launch of its infrastructure fund to raise about Bt60 billion for expansion and debt repayment. The company expects to launch the fund at the end of this month.
