True decides against bidding for 900MHz, 1800MHz licences

Its management considered that the company should not take part in the auctions of the licences to operate the 900MHz and 1800MHz frequencies for telecommunication business by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) on August 18-19. 
The company made the decision carefully, taking into account optimal benefits of its customers and investors, according to Vichaow Rakphongphairoj, True Corp’s co-president.
The company emphasised that the decision not to join the auctions would neither cause True to lose any business opportunity nor affect TrueMove H’s cellular-service competitiveness in the mobile market.
The company sufficiently owns and operates 55MHz of frequency bandwidth, which is adequate for the growth of its subscriber base, which is expected to double in the near future, Vichaow said. 
True is also sure it is able to retain its comparative advantages in the market, as well as continuing to deliver its best performance and customer experience.
Earlier, the NBTC had planned to offer only the 1800MHz licences in an auction set for August 4. 
However, it had to change the schedule and revise the auction terms and conditions to the present framework after the country’s three telecom operators declined to submit bid applications by the original deadline of June 15.
Under the current timeframe, today is the last day that prospect bidders can pick up the bid documents. 
Advanced Info Service (AIS) group and Total Access Communication (DTAC) group had already picked up the application papers to bid for both spectra. 
True did not pick up the application document.
It remains to be seen, however, whether either or both AIS and DTAC will submit bid applications by the August 8 deadline, which is only a day away.
True’s share price on Tuesday closed at Bt6.50, up 2.36 per cent on the day. 
AIS shares closed at Bt199.50, unchanged from Monday, while those of DTAC finished the day at Bt40, down 2.44 per cent.