AIS Suspends 3G Expansion Pending License Auction

Thailand's Advanced Info Service (AIS) has suspended the expansion of its trial 3G network running over the 900Mhz band, citing concerns about congestion for its existing GSM subscribers. The conpany will now wait for the long delayed 3G auction to release radio spectrum in the more conventional 2100 Mhz bands.

The regulator plans to auction 3G licenses later this year.

AIS launched a 3G network over its existing 900Mhz spectrum last year in Chiang Mai and Chon Buri, with a launch in Bangkok earlier this year. Its investment to date on the 900MHz 3G base stations is Bt60 million. AIS has previously said that it plans to invest 60 billion baht (US$1.7 billion) over three years on its 3G network - once the 3G licenses are formally awarded.

The state owned operator, TOT is also 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.

Another operator, DTAC recently placed an order with Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei for the supply of 3G infrastructure.

Posted to the site on 7th June 2009