Seven cellcos have applied for MVNO licences on state-owned TOT’s 3G network in Thailand, according The Nation newspaper.
The strong interest comes despite the uncertainty of the country’s upcoming frequency allocation law.
The Senate recently approved…
Seven cellcos have applied for MVNO licences on state-owned TOT’s 3G network in Thailand, according The Nation newspaper.
The strong interest comes despite the uncertainty of the country’s upcoming frequency allocation law.
The Senate recently approved an amended Frequency Allocation Bill that will help create an independent body in charge of 3G frequency allocation in Thailand.
Called the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), the regulator will be able to issue 3G spectrum, ending the long delay to the country’s licensing process.
It is not yet known when the auction will restart but experts in the industry believe it won’t take place before next year. According to The Nation, the regulator will, however, consider the MVNO applications soon.
Advanced Info Service (AIS) said recently it would soon provide commercial 3G services in partnership with TOT as it holds an MVNO licence, while True Move has reportedly approached the state-owned company with a similar deal.
Five companies are already operating on TOT’s network, according to the newspaper. The company believe its MVNO partners won’t be affected by the frequency allocation law, as they only market services and do not lease spectrum.
