Thailand set to resume delayed auction of 3G licences

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Thailand were set to resume its delayed 3G licence sale after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the telecom regulator, secured the necessary number of directors to form a quorum. The regulator had been short of four directors, but this has been resolved after the nominees finally secured Royal endorsement. Part of the delay in appointing the new directors was reportedly caused by the need to check the qualifications of the nominees. Col Natee Sukolrat, one of the nominees, had been under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The NTC still needed to elect a chairman. The board having formed, though, it can proceed with the 3G licence auction. It is now expected that licences will be awarded by the end of 2010. It has been proposed that a total of four licences will be offered, with three of 10Mhz and a fourth with 15Mhz of radio spectrum, together with a reserve price for the auction of between US$100-US$200 million. Several of the operators were running limited trials of WCDMA networks in the 900Mhz band, but the lack of radio spectrum has been hampering their deployment.

Also see:

Thailand - Mobile Communications - Market Overview

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Thailand - Mobile Communications - Major Operators;

Thailand - Key Statistics, Telecommunications Market and Regulatory Overview

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News Source : Thailand set to resume delayed auction of 3G licences