Thailand's NBTC Considers Earlier Auction for 3500MHz Spectrum Band
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission may expedite the auction timeline amid growing demands in the 5G sector.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand is evaluating the possibility of auctioning the 3500-megahertz spectrum band earlier than the previously scheduled date of 2027. This spectrum band is recognized globally as a key frequency for the development of 5G private networks.
An anonymous source from the NBTC board indicated that advancing the auction timeline could facilitate telecom operators in formulating their business strategies more effectively.
Presently, many digital television operators are utilizing the 3500MHz band for programming distribution via C-band satellite dishes, with approximately 60% of the Thai population accessing digital television through satellite platforms.
The licenses for all digital television broadcasting channels are set to expire in 2029, prompting discussions around migration strategies to accommodate technological advancements.
The source noted that any transition from C-band dishes to Ku-band satellite transponders will likely incur additional costs for viewers, impacting an estimated 6-10 million households.
To address the potential financial burden of migration, the NBTC is examining options such as providing subsidies to impacted viewers.
Two main strategies are being considered by the regulator regarding the handling of the 3500MHz spectrum.
One approach would integrate either the 3300-3400MHz band or a portion of the 3500MHz into the current auction plan for six separate mobile spectrum bands, which include 850MHz, 1500MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, and 26GHz.
The inclusion of the 3300-3400MHz band aims to simplify the auction process by diversifying available options for bidders, potentially alleviating intense competition and price inflation during the bidding process.
Alternatively, the NBTC may decide to auction the six mobile bands first, with the 3500MHz range auctioned by the end of the current year, ahead of the initial 2027 timeline.
Somphop Purivigraipong, a commissioner responsible for the telecom sector at the NBTC, previously indicated a 2027 target for the auction of the 3300-3700 MHz band, with the 3700-4200 MHz band slated for auction in 2029.
In light of these developments, the Association of Digital Television Broadcasting (ADTEB) has urged the NBTC to reconsider its auction plans for the 3500MHz band.
The association advocates for an extension of broadcasting licenses beyond the 2029 expiration date and has expressed a desire for the NBTC to refrain from issuing new licenses through auction post-2029. Recent discussions between ADTEB and the NBTC have focused on potential support mechanisms for digital TV operators as their licenses approach their expiration dates.
An anonymous source from the NBTC board indicated that advancing the auction timeline could facilitate telecom operators in formulating their business strategies more effectively.
Presently, many digital television operators are utilizing the 3500MHz band for programming distribution via C-band satellite dishes, with approximately 60% of the Thai population accessing digital television through satellite platforms.
The licenses for all digital television broadcasting channels are set to expire in 2029, prompting discussions around migration strategies to accommodate technological advancements.
The source noted that any transition from C-band dishes to Ku-band satellite transponders will likely incur additional costs for viewers, impacting an estimated 6-10 million households.
To address the potential financial burden of migration, the NBTC is examining options such as providing subsidies to impacted viewers.
Two main strategies are being considered by the regulator regarding the handling of the 3500MHz spectrum.
One approach would integrate either the 3300-3400MHz band or a portion of the 3500MHz into the current auction plan for six separate mobile spectrum bands, which include 850MHz, 1500MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, and 26GHz.
The inclusion of the 3300-3400MHz band aims to simplify the auction process by diversifying available options for bidders, potentially alleviating intense competition and price inflation during the bidding process.
Alternatively, the NBTC may decide to auction the six mobile bands first, with the 3500MHz range auctioned by the end of the current year, ahead of the initial 2027 timeline.
Somphop Purivigraipong, a commissioner responsible for the telecom sector at the NBTC, previously indicated a 2027 target for the auction of the 3300-3700 MHz band, with the 3700-4200 MHz band slated for auction in 2029.
In light of these developments, the Association of Digital Television Broadcasting (ADTEB) has urged the NBTC to reconsider its auction plans for the 3500MHz band.
The association advocates for an extension of broadcasting licenses beyond the 2029 expiration date and has expressed a desire for the NBTC to refrain from issuing new licenses through auction post-2029. Recent discussions between ADTEB and the NBTC have focused on potential support mechanisms for digital TV operators as their licenses approach their expiration dates.
