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The move would prevent the market from being dominated by incumbent players.

Sethaporn Cusripituck of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) this week said the idea was suggested by the NTC's consultant for drafting 3G-spectrum licensing terms.

The consultant recommended the appropriate number of 2.1-gigahertz-spectrum licences be four, of which one was for the 15-megahertz spectrum and each of the others for the 10MHz spectrum out of the NTC's total of 45MHz bandwidth spectrum.

Sethaporn said the NTC intended to grant the licences via auction and that the proceeds after deducting expenses would be placed in the state coffers.

The NTC will hold a public hearing on the consultant's recommendations next month and had planned to award the 3G licences in August. But on Monday, the Information and Communications Technology Ministry said the NTC should delay awarding them until the end of the year.

ITC Minister Mun Patanotai said the NTC should allow telecom operators time to upgrade their networks to offer 3G on their existing spectra and learn the ropes of offering the service.

The NTC and Mun will discuss the matter soon.

Foreign telecom giants Singapore Telecom and Telenor of Norway are already in the Thai market as strategic partners of Advanced Info Service and Total Access Communication. Only True Move has no foreign strategic partner.