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Published on April 3, 2008

In its letter to ICT Minister Mun Patanotai on Tuesday, DTAC said the delay in clinching permission from the National Telecommunications Com-mission (NTC) would result in DTAC and its concession owner, CAT, losing the competitive edge to Advanced Info Service (AIS).

AIS has already won NTC permission to import 3G cellular broadband equipment as part of a plan to launch the service on its existing 900MHz spectrum this year.

DTAC, which will debut its 3G service on its existing 850MHz spectrum, has to apply for NTC permission via CAT.

It proposed to CAT a plan to upgrade its network to offer the 3G service on March 26.

Last month the ICT minister gave the nod to a collaboration between all private cellular operators and their state concession owners to develop 3G service on existing spectra.

The third-largest cellular operator True Move is waiting for its concession owner CAT to allocate 850MHz spectrum bands to it to develop the 3G service.

NTC has allowed telecom operators to develop 3G service on existing spectra.

It is expected to grant the licences to operate 2,000MHz spectrum bands offering 3G service next year.

Telecom Reporters

The Nation