Critics slam 3G 'giveaway'

News > Local News

Only three out of nine slots attract rival bids

Published: 17 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Thailand's long-overdue sale of third-generation (3G) mobile spectrum bandwidth has attracted a storm of criticism.

Top executives of Thailand’s three major mobile phone operators, from left, Dtac CEO Jon Eddy Abdullah; Advanced Info Service (AIS) vice chairman Somprasong Boonyachai; and True CEO Suphachai Chearavanont, pose for a photo prior to the 3G spectrum auction at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission in Bangkok Tuesday. The auction of 3G licences began with the three mobile phone operators vying for slots from 45MHz of bandwidth on the 2.1GHz band. APICHIT JINAKUL

Academics and politicians alike slammed telecom regulators Tuesday for essentially gifting new licences to the private sector at taxpayer expense.

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davidh
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Discussion 5 : 17 Oct 2012 at 04.415
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What are we complaining about. Low auction bids mean low prices for Consumers!

No good giving too much to Government where so much is just siphoned off.

This is a real victory for the People who hopefully will now be able to afford the new prices away from the snatches of greedy politicians.
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rastas
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Discussion 4 : 17 Oct 2012 at 03.574
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Why would any company pay top dollar for near obsolete technology. 3G is currently being superceded by 4G which many countries will be adopting next year, after already having had 3G for the last 5 years. The critics sound like used car salesmen trying to tell you that a 10 year old car with 800,000 Kms on the odometer is like new and expect a high price from the customer.

Wake up people, 3G is old technology and you missed the chance to get a good price and not be left behind by the rest of the world (again).
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Lazarisbk
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Discussion 3 : 17 Oct 2012 at 03.173
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Will this auction go into the guiness book of records as the worlds longest?

6 hours to sell 15 lots!!!

C'mon lol
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undertaker
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Discussion 2 : 17 Oct 2012 at 02.492
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Yes in Europe their were auctions for 3 g but the price was too high the phone companies thought they could ask what they wanted for their services so they bid high. But the consumers were slow to take up the 3 g and sales were slow.
The price here semms ok yes they seem cheap as is said but many companies have learned that you just cant ask the customer to pay what you ask they wont do it.
I hope the 3g is 3g if its anything like the rest of the internet in Thailand it not be worth the extra money we will see,time will tell.
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noristhai
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Discussion 1 : 17 Oct 2012 at 02.231
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People, do not complain. The nonexcistance of 3G did cost Thailand dearly already.
A alledged loss of 16.3 billion Baht is only peanuts compared to the combined losses of all the other Goverment dream sceames.
As one of the last countries in the world, Thailand has finally joined the 3G family.
At least I hope so., or are there some law suits brewing already?????
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Critics slam 3G 'giveaway' | Bangkok Post: news