True wants new spectrum

The Nation (24 December 2007)

True Corp is asking the national telecom regulator for a new cellular spectrum to ease congestion on its subsidiary True Move's 1,800-megahertz band.

True Corp subsidiary Samut Prakan Media reapplied for the spectrum. With more than 12 million subscribers, True Move's 12.5-megahertz bandwidth of the 1,800 megahertz spectrum is almost saturated.

National Telecommunications Commission secretary-general Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn said the commission had no cellular spectrum available.

He said Samut Prakan Media would have to share spectrum as per regulations that took effect in July.

These pave the way for telecom operators to request commission permission to either transfer rights and duties of spectrum to other operators or use others' spectrum.

The regulations aim to reallocate existing spectrum for maximum utilisation.

Sharing plans need to be approved by the commission.

A True Move source said the company had asked Total Access Communication for the use of DTAC 50MHz-bandwidth, 1800MHz spectrum. DTAC declined, the source added.

DTAC uses the 800MHz spectrum, too. It wants to secure use of 900MHz spectrum from Advance Info Service (AIS). This frequency allows AIS to roll out provincial networks at lower cost than for 1,800MHz.