Panel to call for 60-MHz cap on telecom bands
The Telecom Committee will next month propose to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) a 60-megahertz cap on the bandwidth each telecom operator can hold.
The cap, which is part of the NBTC’s plan to auction 1800MHz and 900MHz spectrum licences this year, covers spectra under both NBTC licences and state concessions, said Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the NBTC.
Total Access Communication (DTAC) controls the most bandwidth at 75MHz, of which 15MHz is on 2.1GHz under an NBTC licence, 50MHz on 1800MHz and 10MHz on 800MHz on a CAT Telecom concession. Its concession is due to expire in 2018.
Advanced Info Service holds 32.5MHz, of which 15MHz is on 2.1GHz under an NBTC licence and 17.5MHz is on 900MHz under a TOT concession. Its 900MHz concession will expire this September.
True Corp holds 15MHz on 2.1GHz under an NBTC licence.
Those owning 60MHz of bandwidth will be allowed to bid for new spectrum licences, but if they win, they would have to transfer existing bandwidth equal to what they clinched.
If the existing bandwidth was granted by the NBTC, then they will transfer the spectra to the NBTC. If the bandwidth was allotted under a concession, they will transfer the existing bandwidth to the state enterprises.
Four licences – two for 12.5MHz bandwidth on the 1,800MHz spectrum and two for 10MHz bandwidth on the 900MHz spectrum – will be up for grabs.
The two 12.5MHz bands on the 1800MHz frequency had been held by TrueMove and Digital Phone Co.
The NBTC will hold the 1,800MHz auction in November and take bids for the two 900MHz licences in December.
