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As neighbors deploy 4G data networks,
Thailand fiddles with 3G auction
Dr. Phatcharasut Sujarittanont
(left) and Pol. Lt. Jetsada Sewarak (right), secretary to the vice president
of NBTC, address another in a series of public hearings to review the rules
of a long-delayed 3G auction.
Phasakorn Channgam
While major Western and Asian nations are mass-marketing
super-fast, fourth-generation mobile data networks, Thailand is still
figuring out how to auction off 3G frequencies to cover the kingdom.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications
Commission held another in a series of public hearings in Pattaya Sept. 7 to
review its latest tinkering with the rules of a long-delayed 3G auction.
Postponed by more than two years by lawsuits and government infighting, the
auction finally is set to take place Oct. 17.
A 45-megahertz chunk of Thailand’s 2.1-gigahertz
frequency will be sold off in 5 Mhz slices with a minimum bid price of 4.5
billion baht.
A last-minute change in the rules by the NBTC, explained
at the Sept. 7 hearing at the Amari Orchid Resort Pattaya, likely has made
the auction a moot point, however. Most industry analysts expect each chunk
of bandwidth to go for only the minimum bid to three domestic providers, as
an agency-backed law prohibits any foreign telecom operators from
participating.
In mid-August, the NBTC pushed through a rule change that
lowered the maximum amount of bandwidth any one bidder could purchase from
20 Mhz to 15 Mhz. Advanced Info Service Plc and Total Access Communications
Pcl (DTAC) were expected to buy 20 Mhz each, leaving smaller True Corp. with
only 5 Mhz.
With the change, AIS and DTAC will now be capped at 15
Mhz, leaving the last 15 Mhz for True.
Agency auction-design and marketing official Phatcharasut
Sujarittanont nonetheless called the auction “clean and just,” saying the
manipulation of the frequency was made to have “the most benefit” to the
country.
“The auction for 3G frequency is beneficial to citizens
since we will have more options in choosing signal frequencies for better
information transmittal,” he said. “Once the auction is completed, citizens
will have an increase in channels and speed.”
Thailand ranks last in the Asia-Pacific region to deploy
3G mobile data services, despite being one of the first to propose it 10
years ago. But unwillingness by government-owned telecom operators to share
valuable frequency and a 2010 Supreme Court decision to prohibit a planned
auction has made Thailand an also-ran in Asia’s high-tech industry.
Countries from Singapore to Japan are now marketing fast
4G Long-Term Evolution services while Thailand has yet to deploy 3G outside
major cities. Industry analysts say AIS, DTAC and True could, however, use a
third of the maximum 15 Mhz they can buy next month for LTE.
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More firms register for business in Thailand
Thailand’s commerce ministry registered 5,584 new
companies in August, an 11 percent increase year on year thanks to
increasing investment, household consumption and the government’s economic
stimulus policy, a senior official said Monday.
Deputy Commerce Minister
Siriwat Kajornprasart
Deputy Commerce Minister Siriwat Kajornprasart said among
the three top registered company categories, 680 were involved in recreation
service, 500 in construction and 246 in the property business.
A total of 2,242 companies were in Bangkok and 3,342
upcountry, with a combined registered investment of Bt28.993 billion.
Compared to July when 5,621 companies registered with the
commerce ministry, August saw a 0.6 percent decrease, while eight months
registration total from January through August 2012 was 0.07 percent lower
compared to the same period in 2011.
However, 1,354 companies with a total registered
investment of Bt6 billion sought to revoke their registrations in August.
Currently, 523,388 companies - 944 of them public - have registered with
the commerce ministry. (MCOT)
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Thailand, Malaysia agree on joint economic, security development in restive South region
Vladivostok, Sept 8 - Thailand and Malaysia on
Saturday agreed to boost cooperation on economic, political and national
security development along Thailand’s southern border, as leaders of the two
countries met on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) held in Russia.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra waves to reporters at
the APEC Summit on Russky Island in Vladivostok.
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who attended the
APEC Summit on Russky Island in Vladivostok between September 7-9, made
remarks after attending a bilateral talk with Malaysian counterpart Najib
Razak.
Yingluck said the two countries agreed to use technology
for security operations along the border in an attempt to ensure safety for
the public and boost trade and investment volume.
The premier said the issue will be raised during the
meeting of Thailand-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting which will be hosted
by Malaysia in October.
The two leaders also discussed the latest disturbances in
Thailand’s Deep South in which dozens of both dummy and real bombs were
planted in several locations, together with Malaysian national flags.
Yingluck reaffirmed the strong bilateral ties between
Thailand and Malaysian, despite attempts to cause misunderstanding among
them, while Najib said the two neighbors will work together to tackle the
problems.
The Malaysian premier also said he is satisfied with the
Thai government’s policies toward the far South which focuses on peaceful
approaches, together with the region’s development.
Yingluck and Najib also talked about falling rubber
prices. The Thai premier urged more concrete discussions to solve the
problem and add value to the products produced by Thailand, Malaysia and
Indonesia, as this was an urgent issue to protect rubber prices.
After the talk with her Malaysian counterpart, Yingluck
also held a bilateral talk with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on the
progress of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, which is
expected to be signed by the end of this year or early next year.
Yingluck said the Thai automobile industry, especially pick-up trucks,
car tyres, cement, electronic devices, rubber products, as well as the
service and hotel sectors, would benefit from the FTA. (MCOT)
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