Affordable handsets the key to growth, transition to 4G wireless broadband, says Telenor chief exec
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THE AVAILABILITY of affordable handsets would ensure a successful transition to the wireless broadband 4G service in Thailand, and to further mobile broadband data growth in the country, said Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Telenor's president and chief executive of
He said that for the whole country to quickly adopt 4G service depended on the availability of affordable compatible handsets to drive the market.
As chairman of the GSM Association (GSMA), he will meet with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) today to discuss regulatory issues and the NBTC plan to auction the 1,800MHz spectrum next year.
Baksaas said the government has a responsibility to distribute spectrum and allocate it in the best way.
The NBTC awarded 2.1GHz spectrum licences to three bid winners last December – Advanced Wireless Network, dtac Trinet and Real Future. Currently only Real Future offers both 3G and 4G on 2.1GHz spectrum.
Telenor Asia owns around 42.61 per cent of Total Access Communication (DTAC).
Baksaas said that regarding Thailand, Telenor was very satisfied, since the high growth of data revenue exceeded expectations. The company saw growth in mobile data demand on high-end mobile phones, and more new smartphones were coming.
When asked about the political situation in Thailand, he said the issues were just short term and that Telenor looked to long-term investment, as did the telecom industry as a whole.
DTAC chief executive Jon Eddy Abdullah said DTAC will grow along with the country’s gross domestic product.
In its 15 years in Asia, Telenor has invested in Thailand, Mal-aysia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is now moving into Myanmar.
Ooredoo and Norway’s Telenor are two global telecom operators that have recently won commercial licences to operate telecom services in Myanmar.
Baksaas said the Myanmar licence is expected to be awarded to Telenor in this quarter. Telenor plans to start network roll-out early next year and to launch services in the third quarter of 2014.
