The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has announced the 900-megahertz spectrum auctions scheduled for next week will now be held on Dec 15, the original scheduled date.
The NBTC's telecom committee said the rescheduling was to ensure greater transparency in 900-MHz auction processes, enhance bidding competition and prevent possible collusion.
An industry source said the rescheduling order came from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The NBTC initially planned to auction two licences on the 900-MHz spectrum on Nov 12, each with 10 MHz of bandwidth.
The regulator also planned to auction another two licences on the 1800-MHz spectrum on Nov 11, each with 15 MHz of bandwidth.
The NBTC earlier said the original auction date of Dec 15 was too far from the 1800-MHz auction date, giving the winning bidders of 1800-MHz licences an apparent advantage.
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said the information and communication technology minister would submit the rescheduling proposal to the cabinet today for approval.
The industry source said some of the four telecom committee members disagreed with the rescheduling.
Mr Takorn said even though the NBTC had strict measures to prevent collusion among bidders, the rescheduling would foster more confidence among stock investors since all bidders were SET-listed companies. Bidders failing to win a licence on the 1800-MHz spectrum could see a swing in their stock prices.
He said the rescheduling might not affect operators' plans to launch commercial 4G service.
The NBTC expects commercial 4G service to begin by next February, Mr Takorn said.
An anonymous NBTC source still believes the early 900-MHz auction date would benefit the public through faster 4G network roll-out and commercial services, lower auction costs by eliminating redundancies and faster government receipt of auction fees.
The rescheduling was a surprise to the industry, as the cabinet had just approved the Nov 12 date last Tuesday.
Another industry source said a recent article by Somkiat Tangkitvanich, chairman of the Thailand Development Research Institute, put pressure on the telecom committee.
Mr Somkiat suggested the 900-MHz auctions be at least three months after the 1800-MHz auctions to increase competition.