True Move H Universal Communication (TUC), the country's second largest mobile operator by subscribers, says up to 60 billion baht was set aside to support 5G network development from 2020 to 2022 to serve growing demand for internet bandwidth, in line with the new economy.
The company plans to set up 12,000 base stations on the 700-megahertz spectrum range by 2021, which would cover 80% of the country's population.
The move is intended to boost its network coverage and capacity to level up its competitiveness in the market.
TUC was awarded a 700MHz licence from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday after it paid the first instalment on Thursday worth 1.88 billion baht of the licence to the telecom regulator.
The licence, which covers 20MHz of bandwidth on the 700MHz range, costs 17.58 billion baht. The 15-year 700MHz licence mandates operators pay for licence fees in 10 instalments.
The spectrum was allotted by the NBTC for the purchase on June 19, 2019.
DTAC TriNet, a subsidiary of mobile operator DTAC, and Advanced Wireless Network (AWN), a subsidiary of Advanced Info Service (AIS), also secured 700MHz licences.
DTAC TriNet paid the first instalment for the licence on Dec 21.
Sarit Jinnasith, co-president of True Corporation, the parent firm of TUC, said the low-band 700MHz could be a boon for coverage expansion and complement mid-band 2600MHz for efficient 5G service.
He said data usage via hi-speed mobile internet keeps growing each month as people are gearing up for working remotely and spending more time at home in the new normal, fueled by the pandemic.
He said 20 billion baht had been spent to boost TUC's 5G network capacity in 2020.
"We will continue to invest in network expansion as the 5G network is a core infrastructure development for the country," said Mr Sarit.
For the 2600MHz band, TUC installed 4,000 base stations in 2020 and plans to set up another 2,000 by March 2021.
According to the NBTC, the 700MHz can be used in full capacity from Jan 15. Parts of the spectrum are currently being used by digital TV broadcasters to air TV programmes.
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. The adjustment is being carried out region by region.
Apart from the 700MHz, TUC holds 20MHz of bandwidth on 900MHz band, 30MHz of bandwidth on 1800MHz, 30MHz of bandwidth on 2100MHz, 90MHz of bandwidth on 2600MHz and 800MHz of bandwidth on 26-gigahertz range.
TUC has also partnered with state telecom enterprise CAT Telecom to make use of 30MHz of bandwidth on the 850MHz range for 4G service through a partnership agreement, which expires in 2025.