Total Access Communication Plc (DTAC) plans to invest 70 billion baht over the next three years to expand and better market its 4G network, its chief executive said, in a bid to protect market share.
DTAC, the country's second largest telecom operator by subscriber numbers, originally planned to spend the 70 billion baht to obtain new 4G spectrum, but it failed to win a licence in an auction late last year.
The company, controlled by Norway's Telenor, recently revised its dividend-payment policy to not less than 50% of net profit from 80% to help fund the expansion, chief executive Lars Norling told reporters.
DTAC also plans to double the number of 4G subscribers to 4.5 million by year end, it said in a statement.
DTAC's focus on 4G expansion comes as it battles leader Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS), as well as third-ranked True Corp and newcomer Jasmine International for subscribers in one of Southeast Asia's most competitive, and yet lucrative, telecom markets, analysts said.
Mr Norling said DTAC was in talks with AIS on a possible 2G network roaming agreement, but declined to give details.
DTAC, which has 25.3 million subscribers, plans to increase 4G bandwidth on 1800MHz spectrum to 20MHz and expand coverage nationwide, enabling it to serve all range of 4G-enabled devices, he added.
DTAC also plans to offer free smartphones, or up to a 75% discount, on 4G handsets and will spend 2 billion baht to encourage its 2G customers to upgrade their handsets, the company added.