3G Contract Awarded to Nokia-Siemens/Huawei in Thailand

Thailand's Total Access Communication has selected Nokia Siemens Networks and mainland's Huawei Technologies to supply gear for a 3G network, a company official has announced. The vendors are to upgrade the network to 3G services the official, who declined to be named told the Reuters news agency.

Neither vendor has confirmed the contract win so far.

However, only a few weeks ago, TAC had announced that it will delay the launch of its 3G network until it sees more demand for mobile data services. The decision was taken by the company's new CEO, Tore Johnsen, who had taken charge of DTAC last November. The firm had previously earmarked THB5 billion ($147 million) for investment in 3G infrastructure during 2009.

"There is no need to rush into offering 3G services as long as demand for mobile data is still not there," Mr Johnsen told the Bangkok Post newspaper, adding that "we want to make sure that the Thai market is more than ready for 3G, particularly in the mobile data service area,"

AIS is already operating a limited 3G network in the capital city, but by reusing its existing 900Mhz spectrum as formal licenses in the more typical 2.1Ghz bands still have not been released.

Rival state controlled operator, TOT is proceeding with its own 3G network rollout and expects to have some 350,000 subscribers by the end of this year, and four million by 2013.

Posted to the site on 12th January 2009