Nokia Siemens sees spectrumlicence
Major telecomequipment supplier NokiaSiemens Networks has urged Thailand to speed up the process of issuing the 2.1GHz spectrum licences for developing 3G serv¬ice, which it views as one way to boost economic growth.
The head of NokiaSiemens Networks for Asia North, Ricky Corker, said yesterday that the most suitable 3G mobile broadband spectrum in Thailand is 2.1GHz, adding that most of the mobile phones worldwide support the spectrum.
The National Telecommunications Commission has yet to award the 2.1GHz spectrum licences for 3G service.
Advanced Info Service has already kicked off a 3G serv¬ice in Chiang Mai, using its existing 900MHz spectrum, while Total Access Communication (DTAC) will launch the 3G service on its 850MHz spectrum in the second quarter of next year.
DTAC is selecting from NokiaSiemens, Huawei Technologies and Ericsson to be its 3G network supplier.
Corker said the broadband services led by mobile 3G could be one of the key engines driving the economy.
He added that NokiaSiemens is interested in TOT
's plan to spend Bt29 billion on rolling out the 3G network nation¬wide, using the 2.1GHz spectrum.The nowdefunct frequency allocation panel granted the 1900MHz spectrum to be jointly owned by TOT and CAT Telecom in 2000. TOT and CAT reached the conclusion that CAT would transfer the spectrum
- of which 2.1GHz is part - to be solely owned by TOT.He said demand for telecom networks in some Asian countries had dropped, while it has increased in places like India and Indonesia.
According to NokiaSiemens, the number of fixedline and wireless broadband users in Thailand will reach 3 million next year, up from around 1.5 million this year, before rising to 6 million in 2011 and 12 million in 2015.
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