MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
DON SAMBANDARAKSA
Qualcomm has warned that Thailand will need at least three 3G networks to ensure that the networks compete with each other on coverage and quality. It also said that the concept of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) will work only if the underlying network is good and expressed concerns with the idea of a shared national network.
Kaneungjit Suriyathumrongkul, Qualcomm country manager, said the concept of MVNO, where operators competed on marketing, content and services, was a good idea, but that many details that would need to be worked out first.
Asked for a prediction of what will happen with Thailand's delayed 3G licensing, Kaneungjit said she predicted we would see 850MHz and 900MHz 3G early next year, with 2,100MHz networks coming online in mid-2009 once the National Telecommunication Commission issued 3G licences.
Dtac and True Move are re-using the CAT spectrum to launch 850MHz 3G, while AIS is doing in-band migration on its 900MHz band. She said that WCDMA 1900 was also technically feasible but did not see it happening. Currently, Thai Mobile has three 15MHz blocks allocated for its GSM 1900 network and it is only using the lower two blocks for three 5MHz carriers (5MHz up and 5MHz down for each carrier). However, WCDMA 1900 can use technically use the top two 15MHz blocks and equipment and handsets are readily available as it is a standard used in the US.
The 2,500MHz band that has been allocated as an extension band by the ITU has two key problems. First, it is currently being used by "cable" television providers in Thailand. Secondly, many countries are not using it for 3G, but saving it for LTE (4G) or WiMAX. Like many other countries in the region, Thailand cannot use the 3GHz WiMAX standard as it conflicts with satellite C-Band. All things considered, Kaneungjit said it will not be for another four or five months before the NTC gives clear directions.
Even with the new round of delays, Kaneungjit still does not agree with some analysts that Thailand should skip 3G and go straight to 4G. She dismissed the upcoming 4G network tests in Japan as it was a closed market with unique market forces. Besides, no Japanese spec handsets or networks were ever sold outside Japan. Thailand is much smaller than Japan and cannot go it alone and be a pioneer in 4G.
Qualcomm will only start to sample its LTE dual-mode chips early next year and it will be a year before we see handsets based on those chips.
Kaneungjit said that the CAT CDMA 2000 Release A network could still compete with WCDMA 3G. It may have a 3.1Mbps downlink speed compared to HSDPA's 7.2Mbps, but she noted that it was with a 1.25MHz carrier as opposed to HSDPA's 5MHz carrier, pointing out that it was using the spectrum much more efficiently. However, she said that CAT and Hutch would have to provide a single service with transparent data roaming before the market accepted it.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Next
