MCOT set for trial of pay TV service on 2.6GHz spectrum
MCOT is ready to conduct a trial of its planned pay-television service using its bandwidth on the 2.6-gigahertz spectrum, according to a company statement on Thursday.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board resolved to grant the so-called network code to MCOT on Wednesday, which is the code that MCOT technically needs to enable the company to test the pay-TV service on broadband wireless technology.
MCOT president Kematat Paladesh said the granting of the network code enabled the company to be ready to provide the pay-TV service on the 2.6GHz band. It will enter talks with its pay-TV marketing partner Playwork on possible collaboration to launch the service, and the business plan will become clearer in next few months.
He said that after the start of the service trial, the company would wait for a while before entering talks with the NBTC on whether it would have to hand over part of its 2.6GHz bandwidth to the commission for reallocation by means of auction. He added that MCOT would not be in a rush to initiate talks with the NBTC on the matter.
The NBTC will reclaim for reallocation spectra whose concessions from state agencies expire. The state agencies will be compensated by the NBTC if they hand over the spectra before their right to use them ends.
