Three cellular firms get 3G approval

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) granted long-awaited approval to Total Access Communication (DTAC) and True Move to upgrade their networks to the 3G technology.

Advanced Info Service (AIS) received permission to launch a 3G service in other provinces, following its debut in Chiang Mai in May.

DTAC will roll out 1,200 3G base stations in Phuket, Chon Buri and Bangkok in the first phase at a cost of Bt5 billion, said NTC secretary-general Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn. The service will be up and running next year.

True Move will spend Bt1.99 billion on rolling out 650 base stations in Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. AIS plans to roll out 400 base stations in greater Bangkok for Bt1.29 billion.

Suranan said the companies had to get their state concession owners - TOT and CAT Telecom - to apply for NTC permission to import 3G equipment on their behalf.

DTAC is pinning high hopes on its 3G service to gain market share from AIS, which has yet to make a final decision on whether to launch the service in Bangkok soon, citing spectrum constraints.

AIS is in talks with TOT over joining the state agency's cellular joint venture Thai Mobile in developing 3G service on the latter's 1900MHz spectrum.