A tentative mobile network roaming agreement between Total Access Communication Plc (DTAC) and Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS) will definitely be scrapped, says the boss of second-ranked mobile operator DTAC.
The country's largest mobile operator will no longer need to rent DTAC's 1800-megahertz network to continue providing its 2G service because the government used Section 44 of the interim charter to extend the period of its customer retention measures until June, said DTAC chief executive Lars Norling.
AIS wants to participate in the new auction for the 900MHz spectrum on May 27. If AIS wins the licence, the company can transfer its 2G customers to the network before June.
Early this year, AIS and DTAC entered into an agreement for rental of the 1800MHz network.
Mr Norling said scrapping the deal will have no serious effect on DTAC's revenue as it represented a small portion.
He also insisted that DTAC will not take part in the new auction because the reserve price for the 900MHz licence of 75.65 billion baht is excessive.
"We have sufficient operating bandwidth to efficiently support our wireless digital services before our 2G mobile concession expires in 2018," he added.
Mr Norling urged the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to establish a clear spectrum reallocation roadmap this year.
"A clear timeframe for the reallocation of the 700, 850, 1800, 2300 and 2600MHz spectrums should be mapped out to pave the way for the country's development of wireless broadband service with affordable prices," he said.
Thailand's fixed-line and mobile digital infrastructure is still lacking in terms of coverage and quality. Mobile penetration, especially the number of 4G users, is lagging behind rates in developed countries.
Mr Norling said efficient spectrum allocation would be a crucial step in building a digital economy.
DTAC yesterday unveiled its white paper on the development path of Thailand's digital economy. It recently presented the white paper at the Asia Pacific Digital Societies Policy Forum 2016 in Bangkok.
Mr Norling said the government needs cooperation from multiple stakeholders including policymakers, the private sector and civil society to jointly push the development of a digital economy.
Revising digital economy laws should also be done in a transparent manner through public consultation.
"DTAC expects to see 100% of the population able to access 4G wireless broadband connectivity by 2020," said Mr Norling, adding that digital industries are expected to contribute up to 25% of Thailand's GDP by that time.