Broadcasting regulator approves MCOT’s pay-TV
The broadcasting committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday voted 3-2 to approve MCOT’s plan to upgrade its 2.6GHz wireless broadband technology for pay-TV services.
MCOT has 144 megahertz of bandwidth on the 2.6-gigahertz spectrum, ranging from 2,536-2,690MHz, which was earlier used to operate pay-TV services under the multi-channel distribution system (MMDS).
MCOT and Playwork Co have signed a contract to operate pay-TV services. MCOT earlier claimed it had the right to retain all 144MHz of its bandwidth on the 2.6GHz spectrum, and said it planned to use part of it to offer a 4G-based pay-TV service, returning the remainder to the NBTC for auction.
However, the broadcasting committee has still not concluded how long MCOT can continue using the spectrum. According to NBTC regulations, MCOT may have the right to use it for no more than 10 years starting from 2012, which means it would have only five years left.
Three of the broadcasting committee’s five members voted to support MCOT’s plan, while the other two were reportedly of the opinion that MCOT had no right to operate any of its bandwidth on the 2.6GHz spectrum.
Those voting in favour were Peerapong Manakit, Thawatchai Jittrapanun and Thaweesak Ngamsanga, while the minority voters were Natee Sukonrat and Supinya Klangnarong.
Recently the NBTC’s spectrum subcommittee concluded that MCOT’s right over the bandwidth had expired and it should hand it back to the commission.
The NBTC earlier announced that its next auction of bandwidth would be on the 2.6GHz spectrum, which would be allocated for fourth-generation wireless services, but it had to wait for a conclusion on the MCOT proposal.
