TOT promises 3G launch in December

[fatal1ty]

TOT promises 3G launch in December
Bangkok Post Sept 9, 2009

TOT Plc has affirmed that it will be able to launch third-generation (3G) mobile broadband service in Bangkok in December.

The state telecom enterprise said it was close to concluding a deal with a telecom operator to be its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).

An MVNO is a mobile operator that does not own its own spectrum and usually does not have its own network infrastructure.

TOT senior executive vice-president Vichein Narkseenuan said that at the end of this month, TOT expected to conclude a rental deal with an operator for its Phase 1 service that would cover Bangkok with 500 base stations.

He said TOT had earlier scheduled Dec 5, the birthday of His Majesty the King, for the 3G launch, but was optimistic that the launch could come sooner, possibly on Dec 1 or 2, as the deal with an operator was about to be concluded.

He did not name the operator but said it was a handset distributor. Three operators are negotiating with TOT to be an MVNO.

He said he first phase would have about 500,000 phone numbers for service.

He reasoned that mobile-phone operators were not interested in the deal with TOT because they feared that if they rented the network to provide the service, they might lose a chance to apply for 3G licences from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

According to a NTC regulation, an MVNO is prohibited from applying for a 3G licence.

TOT also plans to do its own marketing of 3G service for 100,000 numbers. For the nationwide service, he said TOT would also launch the service using the same platform as the first-phase launch.

TOT will rent base stations from mobile operators instead of building them by itself, an undertaking that would require a lengthy public hearing process.