Thailand to hold 3G auction late 2012

Thailand is preparing to finally hold its 3G auction in late 2012.

­The Thai telecoms regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), will auction off the 3G licenses next year, after years of delays. An attempt to hold it last September was blocked by a last-minute court order.

There are some operators in Thailand that already provide 3G services, but this only happened after they refarmed their existing 2G radio spectrum.

The regulator is now expected to hold a public hearing in January on the draft of a spectrum-management masterplan, including the 2.1 gigahertz spectrum for 3G. The draft is expected to be completed by April next year.

NBTC member Sutipol Thaweechaikarn said that the regulator would ensure that bidding would be conducted with utmost transparency and maximum benefit for the country.