Thailand's AIS Plans $1.78 Billion Spend on 3G Network

Thai operator, Advanced Info Service (AIS) plans to invest 60 billion baht (US$1.7 billion) over three years on its 3G network - once the 3G licenses are formally awarded.

"If we get a 3G licence, we will invest about 20 billion baht a year for three years to have nationwide coverage," Pornrat Janjarassakul, head of corporate planning and investor relations, told the Reuters news agency.

The regulator is expected to award conventional 3G licenses in the third-quarter of this year, although the operator is already testing a 3G network using its existing 900Mhz radio spectrum.

The state owned operator, TOT is understood to be trying to negotiate a roaming deal which would grant it access to AIS's existing 3G infrastructure while it spends US$816 million on a network upgrade for its own 3G network.

Rival operator, DTAC recenlty announced that it will delay the launch of its 3G network until it sees more demand for mobile data services.

On the web: Reuters

Posted to the site on 2nd March 2009