Dtac won’t participate in 900-MHz re-auction
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Thailand’s Dtac has decided not to participate in the upcoming re-auction of 900-MHz spectrum due primarily to the high reserve price.
The operator has informed regulator NBTC that it does not plan to bid in the auction
Dtac will instead rely on its 20 MHz of 1800-MHz bandwidth held under a concession agreement due to expire in 2018. The operator also has 15 MHz on the 2100-MHz band under a 3G licensing agreement.
But Dtac CEO Lars Norling has urged the regulator to bring the 1800-MHz spectrum up for auction before its concession expires.
Rival operators AIS and True Move have both expressed a strong interest in securing the spectrum, and have both picked up bid documents for the June auction, the report states.
This is despite the military government’s decision to set the reserve price at the 75.65 billion baht ($2.16 billion) bid by Jas Mobile Broadband before it defaulted on its first instalment payment, triggering the need to reallocate the spectrum.
Questions & Answers
Q.Why has Dtac chosen not to participate in the upcoming 900-MHz spectrum re-auction?
Why has Dtac chosen not to participate in the upcoming 900-MHz spectrum re-auction?
Dtac decided against participating mainly because of the high reserve price set for the spectrum. The operator has informed the regulator NBTC that it has no plans to bid in this specific auction.
Q.What spectrum will Dtac use instead of bidding for the 900-MHz band?
What spectrum will Dtac use instead of bidding for the 900-MHz band?
Dtac plans to rely on its existing 20 MHz of 1800-MHz bandwidth, held under a concession agreement due to expire in 2018. It also possesses 15 MHz on the 2100-MHz band through a 3G licensing agreement.
Q.Which other operators are interested in the 900-MHz spectrum re-auction?
Which other operators are interested in the 900-MHz spectrum re-auction?
Rival operators AIS and True Move have both shown strong interest in securing the spectrum. They have both picked up bid documents for the June auction, despite the high reserve price.
Q.What is the reason for the 900-MHz spectrum being re-auctioned?
What is the reason for the 900-MHz spectrum being re-auctioned?
The spectrum is being re-auctioned because Jas Mobile Broadband defaulted on its first instalment payment. This default occurred after they had bid 75.65 billion baht for the spectrum.
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