OMSAN TORTERMVASANA
Firm wants to hold 20 MHz of bandwidth
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Uttama Savanayana has privately voiced disagreement with TOT Plc's proposal to continue holding mobile spectra after the expiry of its concessions.
"Personally, I think the state telecom already has abundant spectrum resources, enough to help it generate revenue after its concessions end," he said yesterday.
TOT wants to keep 20 megahertz of bandwidth on the 900-MHz spectrum for its own use after its concession with Advanced Info Service Plc ends on Sept 30.
Mr Uttama said the problem was not the amount of spectrum TOT held but its ability to manage and operate existing resources efficiently.
The ICT Ministry has ordered TOT to submit its business plan for operating services on its existing frequency resources and how to survive after its 2G mobile concession with AIS expired.
TOT has 15 MHz of bandwidth on the 2100-MHz spectrum and 64 MHz on the 2300-MHz spectrum.
TOT must submit its business plan to the ICT Ministry for consideration next week before passing it to the State Enterprises Policy Commission for approval.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) also disagrees with TOT's proposal, saying the spectrum should be reallocated through an auction in order to bring optimal benefit to the public.
Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong this week met with the NBTC to discuss the roadmap for spectrum reallocation including TOT and CAT Telecom's proposals to keep spectra for their own use after their concessions end.
ACM Prajin fully supports the NBTC's 4G auctions plans for both the 1800- and 900-MHz spectra, which will be held in November and December, respectively.
He said a conclusion on TOT and CAT's proposals could be reached this month in order to end months of confusion before the 4G auctions took place.
Mr Uttama also said the ICT Ministry would next week submit for cabinet consideration CAT's proposal to return 5 MHz of the 1800-MHz spectrum, now used by DTAC, to the NBTC for auction.
If the return of the unused 5 MHz portion of the 1800-MHz spectrum to be included in the 4G auction in November can proceed as planned, the amount of bandwidth for the 1800-MHz auction will increase to 30 MHz, split into two blocks of 15 MHz each.
The NBTC initially planned to auction 25 MHz of bandwidth for the 1800-spectrum auction, containing 12.5 MHz each.
However, the NBTC has set next Friday as the deadline for CAT to hand over the 5-MHz portion, otherwise the regulator will have to stick to the original auction plan of 25 MHz.