DPC issue snags the 3G plans of dtac, true

"It's our duty to look into the case as requested by DPC in order to ensure fair treatment to all cellular operators. Otherwise, we'll risk a possible legal backlash," Choochart Phromprasid, chairman of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), said last week.

CAT oversees the wireless concessions of True Move, DTAC and DPC.

A few months ago DTAC asked for CAT's permission to upgrade its 800MHz network to offer the third-generation service. True Move followed by asking CAT to seek 800MHz bands for it to develop the 3G service.

Later DPC, a subsidiary of Advanced Info Service (AIS), made the same spectrum request to CAT, citing the need to be fairly treated like DTAC and True Move. But CAT's board denied DPC's request, prompting DPC to ask the NTC to look into the matter.

Later last month, CAT's board approved the state enterprise's proposal to join with DTAC in rearranging the bands of DTAC's 800MHz spectrum in a way that will create 5MHz of bandwidth for True Move to develop the 3G service.

Then CAT sought the NTC's approval for both the spectrum rearrangement and DTAC's upgrade to its network to offer the 3G service.

But DTAC cannot wait any longer.

Last week, DTAC submitted a letter to the NTC asking it to consider the two cases separately, instead of tying them together. Otherwise, DTAC's plan to kick off the 3G service will be further delayed.

Thana Thienachariya, DTAC's chief commercial officer, said he was concerned that the spectrum rearrangement would take time.

AIS already kicked off its 3G service in Chiang Mai in May on its 900MHz spectrum but gave up the plan to launch 3G in Bangkok this month, citing spectrum constraints. It is hoping that DPC will get a new spectrum from CAT for 3G service development in Bangkok.

NTC member Prasit Prapinmongkolkarn said the commission would hold a public hearing next month on the draft licensing terms for 3G service on 2.1GHz.

The NTC is expected to finish the licensing regulations at the end of the year, Choochart said.