True Move H Universal Communication (TUC) plans to start using 1,000 base stations on the 700-megahertz spectrum on Monday when it is due to receive the licence from the telecom regulator to use the range.
TUC yesterday paid the first instalment worth 1.88 billion baht of the 700MHz spectrum licence to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). The licence costs 17.58 billion baht.
The spectrum was allotted by the NBTC for the purchase on June 19 last year.
Chakkrit Urairat, director of regulatory relations at True Corporation, the parent company of TUC, said 3,000 base stations for the 700MHZ band have been established.
But TUC cannot use all the base stations on Monday as some parts of the 700MHz range are being used by digital TV broadcasters to air TV programmes, he said.
Broadcasting network (MUX) operators are in the process of adjusting the 700MHz band network to ensure the three major mobile operators who secured the 700MHz band can use the spectrum.
TUC also secured 2600MHz spectrum range from February's 5G spectrum licence auction. Mr Chakkrit said 4,000 base stations for the spectrum have been established.
"By March 2021, TUC could have 10,000 base stations covering both 700MHz and 2600MHz ranges," he said.
Meanwhile, Total Access Communication (DTAC), the third largest mobile operator by subscribers, said yesterday it began launching its high speed internet on 700MHz after receiving a licence to make use of the range.
DTAC paid the first instalment worth 1.88 billion baht of the 700MHz spectrum licence to the NBTC on Dec 21.
From Thursday, the spectrum will be turned on region by region, as it gets freed up for use, according to DTAC's statement.
It will start in and around Bangkok and selected locations in the North, Northeast and South.
By mid-January, about 2,000 cell sites will be in operation, followed by expansion nationwide, the company said.
"Mobile data usage nearly doubled in 2020, and it grew even faster upcountry. Hence, we are expediting the deployment of 700MHz cell sites to serve our customers nationwide," DTAC chief executive Sharad Mehrotra said.