Advanced Info Service will spend 14.52 billion baht (2372 million) on the first phase of its 4G network rollout.
The Thai mobile operator will use the 1800-MHz spectrum it acquired last month to build out a 4G network in 6,000 locations ready for launch in January, Reuters quoted chief executive Somchai Lertsuthiwong as saying on Friday.
Somchai told a press conference that a pilot 4G service will go live this month, this newswire said.
AIS – which, as Reuters points out, is the only major Thai telco without a 4G service at present – aims to sign up more than 2 million 4G customers in 2016, Somchai said.
The firm will use 4G network equipment and handsets from Nokia Networks, Huawei and ZTE.
Thailand auctioned two 4G licences in the 1800-MHz band in November, raising THB80.78 billion (€2.1 billion) in the process.
Four operators took part in the auction. AIS emerged as the biggest spender, paying THB40.99 billion for the 1725-1740 MHz/1820-1835 MHz frequencies, while True Corp’s True Move H Universal Communication came a close second with a THB39.79 billion bid for the 1710-1725 MHz/1805-1820 MHz lot.
Telenor-owned DTAC and Jasmine International’s Jas Mobile also took part in the contest but walked away with nothing.
However, Thailand will sell of two 900-MHz licences for 4G services this month and the same four operators have registered to take part.
The 900-MHz auction is due to start on 15 December.
