AIS consults watchdog on 3G bid uncertainty

       Advanced Info Service has consulted the national telecom regulator |in a bid to clear up uncertainty over whether it will be eligible to bid for a 3G-2.1GHz licence if it provides the 3G service via another telecom operator's network on a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) basis.
       AIS chief executive officer Wichian Mektrakarn yesterday said the National Telecommunications Commission had replied that its members would discuss the matter before replying. The watchdog might give an answer at the public hearing on the guidelines for the auction of 3G licences this coming Monday.
       One condition in the auction guidelines states that those involved in 3G-2.1GHz cellular service development are not allowed to bid for 3G-2.1GHz licences from the NTC.
       An MVNO is a firm without its own network that has bought |the airtime of a network operator in order to provide a cellular service.
       A telecom industry source said TOT, which owns AIS's concession, had approached AIS to provide a 3G cellular service on the MVNO basis via TOT's upcoming 3G network in the greater Bangkok area. AIS has yet to make a decision on the matter.
       Recently TOT said four companies were interested in providing 3G service via its upcoming 3G network on an MVNO basis, and that one of the four was a large listed firm. However, it declined to specify the name of the listed company.
       TOT is upgrading the existing 1,900MHz network in greater Bangkok to 3G technology. The upgrade is expected to be finished in December.
       Besides, it plans to spend more than Bt20 billion on the roll-out of the new 3G network nationwide, pending the Cabinet's approval of its investment plan.
       In the last two weeks, the NTC's board decided that TOT would not be allowed to bid for the 3G-2.1GHz licences, given that it owns the 1,900 MHz band, which is part of the 2.1GHz spectrum.
       But the NTC will first discuss whether CAT Telecom is eligible to bid for the licences. The Finance Ministry owns 100 per cent of both CAT and TOT.
       Samart Corp is one company interested in becoming an MVNO of TOT's upcoming 3G service on the upgraded network. It is in talks with the state agency on a possible MVNO deal.