logo
Mobile phone bands auctioned off for B41bn

Mobile phone bands auctioned off for B41bn

Bangkok Post29-06-2025
The auction of four mobile spectrum bands on Sunday generated more than 41 billion baht from the sales of the 1500MHz, 2100MHz, and 2300MHz bands to two major telecom operators, Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Corporation.
There were no bids for the 850MHz band.
AIS subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) and True subsidiary True Move H Universal Communication (TUC) were the only two qualified bidders in the auction, hosted by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, chairman of the NBTC board, said AWN proposed a total of around 14 billion baht to grab all three available sets of the 2100MHz band.
It clinched the band by proposing a price of 4.9 billion per set, compared to the reserve price of 4.5 billion baht per set.
The 2100MHz band was available in three sets of 10MHz of bandwidth, each at a price of 4.5 billion baht.
The AWN total winning price on the 2100MHz is around 10% higher than the combined three sets of the band's reserve price.
TUC proposed a total of 26.4 billion baht to grab the 2300MHz and 1500MHz bands: 21.7 billion baht for all seven available sets of the 2300MHz band, and a further 4.65 billion baht for four out of the total 11 sets of the 1500MHz available for the auction.
The 2300MHz band was available in seven sets, each with 10MHz of bandwidth and a price of 2.59 billion baht each.
TUC's winning price for the 2300MHz band is estimated to be 19.7% higher than the total reserve price of the combined seven sets of the 2300MHz.
Eleven sets of the 1500MHz band were available, each with 5MHz of bandwidth at a price of 1 billion baht each.
TUC's winning price for four sets of the 1500MHZ is around 10% higher than the combined four sets of the 1500 MHz's reserve price.
The auction began at 9.30am and took only one hour to finish. The NBTC board held a meeting to acknowledge the auction result in the afternoon.
Two sets of the 850MHz band were on sale, each containing 10MHz of bandwidth at a reserve price of 7.7 billion baht each.
The NBTC board is slated to hold a meeting on Wednesday to consider all dimensions of the auction results.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NCSA boosts cyber defence amid rising border tensions
NCSA boosts cyber defence amid rising border tensions

Bangkok Post

time4 days ago

  • Bangkok Post

NCSA boosts cyber defence amid rising border tensions

The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) is reinforcing the resilience of critical infrastructure in preparation for potential cyberattacks, while the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has warned against artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes in information warfare—particularly amid escalating tensions at the Thailand-Cambodia border. NCSA has increased preparations for critical infrastructure—mainly in energy, telecom, finance and electricity—to prevent cyber warfare amid the rising tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, AVM Amorn Chomchoey, NCSA secretary-general, told the Bangkok Post on Thursday. 'We will closely monitor the situation with relevant agencies on a 24/7 basis, as the alert level has been raised from Yellow to Red,' said AVM Amorn. He added that the agency has stepped up preparations over the past two months, as several Cambodia-based hacker groups have allegedly engaged in periodic cyber warfare and disinformation campaigns. Moreover, AI-generated deepfake images are being used to fabricate scenes of a Thai F-16 jet being shot down, aiming to boost the morale of Cambodian soldiers. Sak Segkhoonthod, senior advisor of ETDA, warned media and online users to verify information before sharing during this intense period. In another development, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) ordered mobile phone service operators to increase cellular signal strength along the Thailand-Cambodia border to a normal level to support military communications in the area, according to Trairat Viriyasirikul, NBTC acting secretary-general. Earlier, the NBTC had directed telecom operators to reduce signal strength in the region to prevent cross-border signal spillover, which could be exploited for cybercrime or by call centre scams.

Telecom spectrum in few private hands sparks national concern
Telecom spectrum in few private hands sparks national concern

Bangkok Post

time11-07-2025

  • Bangkok Post

Telecom spectrum in few private hands sparks national concern

As digital technology becomes the backbone of Thailand's economy and society, the nation's telecom spectrum—deemed a strategic public asset under Section 60 of the Constitution—is increasingly concentrated in the hands of just a few private companies. This shift, driven by recent mergers and spectrum auctions, has raised alarms over consumer rights, service quality, and national security. Despite widespread opposition from consumer organisations, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) approved the auction of key frequency bands—850 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2300 MHz—with a 5:1:1 vote. The result: only two operators now control the majority of Thailand's telecom spectrum, a development experts warn could severely impact the country's 110 million mobile users. Research from the Consumer Council of Thailand reveals that the telecom market has become dangerously concentrated. Following recent mergers, competition has dwindled, leading to higher prices, poorer service, and fewer choices for consumers. Prepaid users—who make up 70–80% of the market and are mostly low-income—have been hit hardest, with prices rising by up to 16% and formerly affordable unlimited packages disappearing. Service quality has also declined. Around 30% of users report signal issues, with the figure rising to 50% in the Northeast. Contacting customer service has become more difficult, often requiring long waits through AI systems. Meanwhile, promotional offers and innovative products have sharply decreased, eroding consumer benefits. Beyond consumer impact, experts warn of long-term risks to national security. Dr. Chaiyot Jirabowornkul, an independent telecom scholar, notes that 99% of Thailand's mobile infrastructure is now privately owned. This raises concerns over data privacy and the state's ability to enforce public-interest policies, such as expanding coverage to remote areas or ensuring fair pricing for low-income groups. The lack of competition also threatens the development of Thailand's digital economy. Without rivals, telecom firms have little incentive to invest or innovate, potentially stalling progress and increasing costs for SMEs reliant on digital infrastructure. Regulatory failure has compounded the issue. The NBTC has been slow to implement key oversight measures, such as cost consultancy and price monitoring. Promised support for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) has yet to materialise, and existing anti-monopoly regulations remain unenforced. Experts argue that the problem lies not just in personnel but in outdated systems. The NBTC's analogue-era operations are ill-suited to the digital landscape it oversees. Proposed reforms include diversifying the NBTC's selection process to include consumer and tech experts, adopting real-time monitoring via IoT, and strengthening parliamentary and public oversight. To restore competition, analysts suggest empowering the state-owned National Telecom (NT) as a viable third player, mandating government agencies to use NT's network, and easing MVNO access to infrastructure. Legal reforms are also needed, with models like the UK's 2024 Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) offering a blueprint for modern regulation and enforcement. Thailand now stands at a crossroads. Will it allow its telecom spectrum—a public asset—to remain in the hands of a few, or will it act to protect consumer rights and national interests? As one expert put it, 'The only beneficiaries of these mergers are the company owners. The nation gains nothing. The people bear the cost.'

Mobile phone bands auctioned off for B41bn
Mobile phone bands auctioned off for B41bn

Bangkok Post

time29-06-2025

  • Bangkok Post

Mobile phone bands auctioned off for B41bn

The auction of four mobile spectrum bands on Sunday generated more than 41 billion baht from the sales of the 1500MHz, 2100MHz, and 2300MHz bands to two major telecom operators, Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Corporation. There were no bids for the 850MHz band. AIS subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) and True subsidiary True Move H Universal Communication (TUC) were the only two qualified bidders in the auction, hosted by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, chairman of the NBTC board, said AWN proposed a total of around 14 billion baht to grab all three available sets of the 2100MHz band. It clinched the band by proposing a price of 4.9 billion per set, compared to the reserve price of 4.5 billion baht per set. The 2100MHz band was available in three sets of 10MHz of bandwidth, each at a price of 4.5 billion baht. The AWN total winning price on the 2100MHz is around 10% higher than the combined three sets of the band's reserve price. TUC proposed a total of 26.4 billion baht to grab the 2300MHz and 1500MHz bands: 21.7 billion baht for all seven available sets of the 2300MHz band, and a further 4.65 billion baht for four out of the total 11 sets of the 1500MHz available for the auction. The 2300MHz band was available in seven sets, each with 10MHz of bandwidth and a price of 2.59 billion baht each. TUC's winning price for the 2300MHz band is estimated to be 19.7% higher than the total reserve price of the combined seven sets of the 2300MHz. Eleven sets of the 1500MHz band were available, each with 5MHz of bandwidth at a price of 1 billion baht each. TUC's winning price for four sets of the 1500MHZ is around 10% higher than the combined four sets of the 1500 MHz's reserve price. The auction began at 9.30am and took only one hour to finish. The NBTC board held a meeting to acknowledge the auction result in the afternoon. Two sets of the 850MHz band were on sale, each containing 10MHz of bandwidth at a reserve price of 7.7 billion baht each. The NBTC board is slated to hold a meeting on Wednesday to consider all dimensions of the auction results.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store