NBTC Sets Targets for 4G Auction

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has set targets to revise auction details for the 1800 and 900 megahertz spectrum in January 2015, and to make a new schedule for the auction in July 2015, reports The Bangkok Post. …

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NBTC Rejects DTAC’s 4G Proposal

DTAC’s request to develop its idle 25-megahertz band on the 1,800MHz spectrum to provide a 4G cellular service, has been rejected by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), reports the Bangkok Post. DTAC – Thailand’s second largest telecom – …

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3G Auction Probe

  The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is conducting a probe into alleged collusion in the bidding process of its own 3G auction, reports the Bangkok Post. AIS, DTAC and TRUE, the three bidders and winners in the 3G auction, …

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Will DTAC skip 3G and go straight to 4G?

The Bangkok Post reports that DTAC has said it will halt expansion of its existing 3G service and prepare its network for 4G if it wins licences for spectrum at the 3G auction on October 16. DTAC's CEO, Jon Eddy Abdullah, earlier proposed …

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3G broadband auction

  The deadline for companies wanting to participate in the 3G spectrum auction ended on 28 September. The Bangkok Post reported that although 7 companies from 11 groups had collected 3G application forms, it is nonetheless widely expected by industry observers that only …

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NBTC Threatens CAT & TRUE Executives with Jail

  The Bangkok Post reports that an investigative panel of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has resolved to file a criminal complaint against BFKT, a subsidiary of TRUE, and CAT for illegally offering 3G wireless broadband services. The NBTC …

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4G Trial

The Bangkok Post reports that two local mobile operators, in alliance with TOT, will launch a 4G wireless broadband trial by the end of the year. Details are somewhat sketchy, and the names of the two firms remain confidential, but according …

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Spectrum Reduced 3G Auction for October

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has set 15-20 October as the auction dates for 3G licences, as reported here. Significantly, the spectrum cap for the auction has been reduced from 20 MHz to 15 MHz per operator, with …

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3G Surge Expected

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has urged mobile operators to prepare for an anticipated surge in requests to change service providers after the third-generation (3G) wireless broadband service begins, reports the Bangkok Post. The NBTC plans to hold a 3G …

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True-CAT 3G Uncertainty Continues

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) issued an order on 20 June 2012 requiring amendment to CAT’s 3G network contracts with True Corporation on six issues within 30 days to accord with Section 46 of the Frequency Allocation Act of …

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NBTC Sets Minimum Bid Price for 3G Licenses

Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is expected to auction a total of 45 MHz in third generation (3G) bandwidth in October, which will serve as another step in the country's rollout of 3G mobile phone services.   In …

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Ex-CAT boss faces threat of legal action over 3G deal

The Bangkok Post has reported that the Ex-CAT Telecom CEO Jirayuth Rungsrithong and the former CAT board could face legal action over the 3G deal awarded to True Corp. The news follows last month's ruling by the committee set up by the …

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NACC to Announce Findings in Probe of True-CAT Deal

The Bangkok Post is reporting that the Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission will "definitely announce its complete findings on the contentious third-generation (3G) network deal between True Corp and CAT Telecom" today (23 April 2012).  The Thai Ministry of Information and Communications Technology previously announced that it found …

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TOT Exploring Partnership Options

  TOT Plc may seek strategic partners to manage and operate its telecom services, reported the Bangkok Post on 17 April 2012. The planned partnerships would involve the partners operating certain TOT telecom services as virtual network operators, according to TOT …

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NBTC Approves Master Plans

It was reported by the Bangkok Post on March 22 that the  National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)  approved all three master plans on March 21 governing spectrum, telecommunications and broadcasting. The NBTC also reportedly endorsed the periods within which the …

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CAT Board to Decide on True-CAT 3G Contracts

The 22 February 2012 edition the Bangkok Post reports that CAT Telecom's board will review its controversial 3G contracts with True Corporation to determine whether it will move forward with the cooperation or scrap the deals. The True-CAT contracts, which were …

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DTAC to challenge “foreign dominance” rules

"Second-ranked mobile operator Total Access Communication (DTAC) has reiterated that it is ready to deal with a potentially explosive challenge to "foreign dominance" before the upcoming 3G licensing auction begins", according to a report in the 20 February 2012 edition of …

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NBTC’s Proposed Revisions to Foreign Dominance Restrictions

The Bangkok Post reported on 7 February 2012 that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is revising its regulations on foreign dominance restrictions for Thai telecom operations.  Under the existing regulations, "the rule is aimed at curbing foreign dominance …

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MVNO Contractor takes action against TOT executives

The Bangkok Post reported on 6 December 2011, that 365 Communication, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has taken legal action with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against four members of the Telephone Organization of Thailand Plc's (TOT) 3G broadband committee for discriminating against it …

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NBTC Open to Amending Regulations on Foreign Investors

The Nation reported on 17 November 2011 that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) might consider revising the regulations governing foreign dominance of the telecom sector – introduced by its predecessor, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) – amid concerns …

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NBTC Mulls Legal Panel on Frequency Law

      The Nation reported on 1 November 2011 that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is considering the establishment of a legal advisory subcommittee to interpret ambiguous clauses in the Frequency Allocation Law. One ambiguous clause of …

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3G Bid Plans on Schedule, says NBTC

      The Bangkok Post reported on 17 October 2011 that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) has insisted the 3G licence auction will be held on schedule by mid-2012 as initially planned with no further delay. NBTC …

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AIS, TOT Drop Claims

  Manager Online and TeleGeography reported that on 10 October 2011, Thailand’s largest mobile phone operator, AIS, withdrew its claim with the Thai Arbitration Institute against TOT, a state-owned telecommunications company. AIS withdrew its arbitral claim against TOT following the withdrawal …

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NBTC Receives Royal Endorsement

After 13 years in the making, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) was appointed and received royal endorsement on 7 October 2011.  The NBTC is responsible for, among other matters, regulating, licensing and assigning frequencies for telecommunication services.  The …

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Acting NBTC Orders Revision of True-CAT deal

On 28 September 2011, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered revision within 30 days of the 3G contract between the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) – one of the two major state enterprises engaging in telecommunication businesses – and TRUE …

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NACC to investigate CAT-True Deal

The Bangkok Post reports here that the Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) plans to pursue an investigation into the deal reached earlier this year between CAT Telecom and Thailand’s no. 3 telecom, True Corporation. Earlier this year, in May of …

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Controversy Surrounding Appointment of the NBTC

Before the Senate’s appointment of 11 members to the NBTC on 5 September, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was authorized to perform certain duties of the nascent NBTC (see Section 80 of the NBTC Act below).  It was this body, …

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3G Services begin under Regulatory Uncertainty

On 31 August 2011, the Bangkok Post reported that True Move officially launched its commercial 3G service on 30 August 2011 by declaring a “3G war”. Suphachai Chearavanont, True Corporation’s chief executive, said that True Move plans to become the …

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