TOT mulling two launch options for WiMax

Senior executive vice president Wichien Naksrinual yesterday said during a WiMax trial in Chon Buri province that TOT could employ its own 2.3-gighertz spectrum to provide the service.

However, if it wants to use the 2.5GHz global standard frequency, it will have to wait for a licence from the National Telecommuni-cations Commission (NTC).

The regulator is expected to award 2.5GHz licences next year. Since June, it has allowed 14 operators, including TOT, to conduct trials.

Wichien said the state enterprise would consider several factors before making a final decision.

TOT has partnered with multimedia-equipment distributor Planet Communications Asia to conduct the 2.5GHz trial in Chon Buri with several agencies, using Motorola equipment. WiMax technology allows long-distance broadband connection to the Internet.

Chon Buri province was selected for testing because like Bangkok, the major tourist destination encounters strong demand for broadband-Internet access.

Colonel Wanchai Akpornthip, superintendent of Chon Buri police station, which used TOT WiMax in the trial, said WiMax would be hugely beneficial for police operations, because patrol cars could log on to the police database from laptop computers while on the go.

Wichien said TOT WiMax would mainly tap areas unreachable by the fixed-line broadband-Internet network in the greater Bangkok area and major provinces like Chon Buri, Phuket, Phitsanulok, Songkhla and Khon Kaen.

TOT will also team up with the NTC to provide WiMax to Maha Sarakham Rajabhat University for three years over the 2.3GHz spectrum, in order to fulfil the government's Universal Obligation Service (USO) regulations.

These require telecom licensees to pay 4 per cent of their revenue to the USO Fund if they decline to provide telecom service in remote areas. Then other telecom operators, such as TOT, would be hired by the USO Fund to install phone service in rural areas.

TOT wants to explore new business in the wake of declining telephone-service revenue following intense competition from cellular services. Some 50 million people use mobile phones, against 6 million who subscribe to landlines.

Besides WiMax, TOT wants to deploy third-generation (3G) mobile broadband technology to generate new revenue. It will spend Bt29 billion to build up a 3G network nationwide for lease to telecom operators.