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Thailand vows faster action towards 4G
02 February 2012
Thailand regulator NBTC promises speedy move to 4G after launching LTE trials with operators and NSN, Cisco and Huawei
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Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has said that it will act faster on a 4G rollout in the country, after the 3G licence auction in the third quarter of 2012. NBTC member Settapong Malisuwan said that 4G was the next step for the commission. He was speaking during the launch of a 4G trial by Advanced Info Service-TOT and CAT Telecom-Digital Phone, according to Thai daily The Nation.
NBTC hopes to start auctioning licences for 2.3 and 1.8 gigahertz in 2013 or 2014 after reclaiming the bandwidth from existing owners.
AIS-TOT and CAT-DPC have launched their non-commercial trials in Bangkok and Maha Sarakham regions. Meanwhile, True Corporation is reportedly planning a 4G trial with CAT in certain provinces.
AIS’s CEO Wichian Mektrakarn had previously stated that the operator will conduct a 2.3 gigahertz LTE trial with TOT. The two companies had agreed to set up 84 sites in Bangkok and other areas for the test.
AIS-TOT’s trial uses 20 megahertz of bandwidth from TOT’s 2.3 gigahertz around Bangkok until May 26, while CAT-DPC is conducting trials on 10 megahertz of DPC’s 1.8 gigahertz around the Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University, with the tests ending in March, reported The Nation. The companies have jointly deployed networks from NSN, Cisco and Huawei for the trials. GTB
Further reading from Global Telecoms Business:
Thailand's TOT may sign new MVNO deals 30 Jan 2012
DTAC to invest $1.26bn in 3G upgrade 10 Jan 2012
Thailand may relax foreign stake rules 18 Nov 2011
True to use rights offering proceeds for 3G 15 Jun 2011
Thailand holds up imports of 3G equipment 27 May 2011