Bangkok: Two leading mobile operators have entered the NBTC’s highly anticipated mobile spectrum auction. The auction aims to facilitate the private sector’s access to new spectrum, bolster the 5G network to support AI advancements, and ensure network services reach every sub-district within the next five years, enhancing internet accessibility in the digital age.

According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Saran Boonbaichaipruk, Chairman of the NBTC, highlighted the importance of the spectrum auction, featuring prominent participants such as True and AIS. The goal is to ensure that the public, government, and private sectors have adequate access to frequency waves. Following five years of utilizing 5G technology, there is hope that the auction’s winner will leverage the frequency waves to advance national development and offer services at equitable prices.

Frequency waves are deemed a vital national resource, essential for supporting the internet needs of the emerging generation. The auction involves frequency band
s whose concession contracts have expired, with the aim that the winning bidder will use them to enhance communication, and develop 5G and AI systems for global competitiveness. The auction winner is expected to extend mobile services to every sub-district, covering 90 percent of the area, within the next five years. The NBTC office has committed to ensuring a transparent auction process.

In the lead-up to the auction, both major mobile companies rallied their supporters to back their bids for the 850 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2,100 MHz, and 2,300 MHz frequency bands, which are critical for current mobile services.

The NBTC has organized the frequencies into three groups: Group 1 includes two sets of 850 MHz waves, each with 5 MHz, and a minimum bid of 7,738 million baht; Group 2 comprises two sets of 2,100 MHz waves, each with 5 MHz, with a starting bid of 4,500 million baht, and 2,300 MHz waves, each with 5 MHz, starting at 2,596 million baht; Group 3 consists of two sets of 1,500 MHz waves, each with 5 MHz, and a m
inimum bid of 1,057 million baht.

During the auction, Dr. Saran Boonbaichaipruk conducted a draw to assign True Group to auction room B and AIS to auction room A, setting the stage to determine the auction winner. The NBTC office plans to announce the auction results by July 6, 2015, with the winner scheduled to make the first payment installment between July 7 and July 9, 2015, and commence frequency licensing by August 4, 2015.