Thailand has once again changed the date for its auction of spectrum in the 900 MHz band.
The country was due to kick off the sale next week, but has pushed it back to 15 December, according to local press reports, the date it had originally set before changing the timetable last month.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) said the postponement stems from a desire to ensure greater transparency, boost bidding competition, and prevent collusion, the Bangkok Post reported.
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said the rescheduling proposal will be submitted to the cabinet for approval on Tuesday, the paper said.
The NBTC plans to begin the sale of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band on Wednesday next week, as scheduled.
It pulled forward the date of the 900-MHz sale to 12 November – Thursday next week – because a large time lag after the 1800-MHz sale would give the winners of the higher frequency an advantage, the Bangkok Post said, without fully explaining how that advantage w ould come about. However, that decision has now been reversed.
The NBTC has four licences to auction, two in the 1800 MHz band at two at 900 MHz.
Takorn insisted that the date change will not necessarily affect operators’ plans to roll out 4G services.
He expects to see commercial 4G services in February 2016.
The NBTC has also deferred the switch-off date for AIS’s 2G services running in the 900 MHz band, The Nation reported.
The telco now has until 22 December, having previously been told that its service would be closed down on 19 November, the paper said.
