4G re-auction money to be used to boost IT
THE GOVERNMENT plans to spend the money gained from today’s re-auction of the 4G licence in developing the country’s Internet system, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said yesterday.
Somkid, who is in charge of economic affairs, said the government would invest in improving Internet broadband and gateways.
“We will persuade people to invest in IT, cloud computing and Internet of Things. This will serve as a platform for Thailand to go digital and transform our production sector into digital,” Somkid said.
He was speaking at the “Digital Thailand 2016” seminar held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
Somkid said the government was pushing hard for Thailand to become a digital society. He said it was focusing on creating an environment suitable for the country to go in that direction.
He added that the country’s key sectors such as agriculture and tourism must be technology-based to boost competitiveness.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission will today holds an auction for a 900MHz 4G licence, with the price starting at Bt75.6 billion.
That was the final bid by Jas Mobile Broadband, which won the licence in December. However, it forfeited the licence after failing to pay the up-front fee before the deadline.
AIS is the only bidder and it is expected to secure the licence with a single bid of Bt75.6 billion.
