Thailand Considers Auctioning WiMAX Licenses on Regional Basis

The Thai telecoms regulator should auction of BWA/WiMAX licenses on a regional basis, concludes a report commissioned by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the World Bank.

According to the study, seen by The Nation newspaper, the choices of the spectrums for providing the new broadband wireless access technologies are 2.3GHz and 2.5 GHz and the most appropriate one is 2.3 GHz. However, those spectrum bands are currently occupied by state agencies and some private companies so migrating their services will have to precede any auction.

It is expected that three licenses will be offered for each region, although applicants can apply for multiple regions.

The auction of the WiMAX licenses is not expected to happen until after the 3G license auctions, which are expected to occurr later this year. That should also give the regulator time to refarm the WiMAX spectrum from its current users.

On the web: The Nation

Updated: 22nd July - Corrected country from Philippines to Thailand.

Posted to the site on 21st July 2009