The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) plans to issue 36 licences for commercial digital terrestrial television services in February.
The reserve price for a commercial digital TV licence is set at no more than 500 million baht, said Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC's broadcasting committee.
If the highest price is reached and all stations are allocated, the NBTC will earn a total of 18 billion baht.
The qualified bidders may have to offer set-top boxes in commercialising their digital TV services.
The NBTC's broadcasting committee approved a 2012-16 roadmap for the broadcasting industry in the digital era.
Col Natee said the final draft is being studied by representatives of Chulalongkorn University and consultation is also being sought from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
There are 60 digital terrestrial TV channels divided into 3 groups: 36 channels for commercial digital TV and 12 channels each for public and community purposes.
For the types of programme, the NBTC has set classifications for information programmes, programmes for the general public, children and families, and for high definition broadcasting.
One TV operator can operate only one channel from each group.
The NBTC is working on deciding the number of high-definition channels as one channel consumes digital bandwidth equal to three standard definition channels.
Under the roadmap, the NBTC will issue infrastructure licences to companies in October and grant licences for providing digital TV services to the general public in December.