Thailand delays 700-MHz auction
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Thai telecom regulator NBTC has postponed plans to hold a 700-MHz auction for at least three months due to delays establishing details of the auction terms.
The regulator no longer expects to be able to hold the 700-MHz auction in May as originally planned, citing comments from the NBTC’s secretary-general.
Instead the earliest timeline for the auction date may be August or September, as related conditions of the auction, including the reserve price, will not be concluded until May.
Other terms which still need to be established including the process for recalling 700-MHz spectrum to be auctioned and the compensation regime for companies affected by the recall. The regulator needs at least three months to complete related procedures.
According to the report, the delay is also aimed at giving operators more time to arrange bank guarantees.
The NBTC plans to push on with the auction regardless of the official outcome 2019 Thai general elections – Thailand’s first general election since the 2014 coup – which was held on Sunday.
Questions & Answers
Q.Why has the Thai telecom regulator delayed the 700-MHz auction?
Why has the Thai telecom regulator delayed the 700-MHz auction?
The NBTC has postponed the auction because of delays in establishing details of the auction terms. Related conditions like the reserve price and the process for recalling spectrum are not yet concluded, and the regulator needs at least three months to complete procedures.
Q.When might the 700-MHz auction now take place?
When might the 700-MHz auction now take place?
The earliest possible timeline for the auction date is now August or September. The regulator had originally planned to hold the 700-MHz auction in May, but this is no longer expected due to the ongoing delays in finalising terms.
Q.What specific terms and conditions still need to be established before the auction can proceed?
What specific terms and conditions still need to be established before the auction can proceed?
The regulator still needs to conclude the reserve price for the spectrum. Other terms that need to be established include the process for recalling the 700-MHz spectrum to be auctioned and the compensation regime for affected companies.
Q.Does the outcome of the recent Thai general election affect the auction plans?
Does the outcome of the recent Thai general election affect the auction plans?
No, the NBTC plans to proceed with the auction regardless of the official outcome of the 2019 Thai general elections. These elections were the country's first since the 2014 coup.
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