DTAC moves to prevent service halt
Total Access Communication (DTAC) and CAT Telecom yesterday submitted a customer protection plan for the 1800- and 850-megahertz spectra under CAT Telecom’s 2G concession to the regulator, hoping to prevent service disruption that could affect its 2 million users.
Under regulations, DTAC, whose concession has nearly expired, must submit a protection plan to National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) within 90 days before expiry.
The proposed protection plan, subject to the NBTC’s approval, emphasises customer benefits from uninterrupted services. The protection period will be active until the spectrum is effectively reallocated to new operators.
Rajiv Bawa, chief of corporate affairs and business development for DTAC, said the move follows the NBTC notification to temporarily provide services on the 800MHz and 1800MHz bands to prevent any interruptions for DTAC customers.
Mr Bawa refused to say whether DTAC will join the 1800-MHz auction, saying the board will hold a meeting to make a final decision on June 15, the date all prospective bidders must submit bid documents and place a bid guarantee with the NBTC.
DTAC holds 90MHz of bandwidth (upload and download) on the 1800MHz spectrum and also 10MHz of bandwidth on the 850MHz spectrum under CAT’s Telecom concession, which will expire on Sept 15.
However, DTAC has the right to use only 50MHz of bandwidth on the 1800MHz spectrum as the concession states that it must use the first 25MHz of bandwidth before using the remaining bandwidth.
“This is a normal practice for the concession holder to submit a plan to ensure customers’ benefits under the remedy measure after the concession expires,” Mr Bawa said.
He said there are more than 2 million DTAC active users on the 800MHz and 1800MHz spectra, including 2G customers.
Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the NBTC, said the customer protection plan under the remedy period is applicable to critical situations, for which mobile concession holders must submit applications to NBTC at least 90 days before the concession expires.
Although NBTC is set to auction 1800MHz spectrum licences on Aug 4, more than one month before DTAC’s concession expire, Mr Takorn said the winner of the auction is given 90 days to pay for the first payment.
NBTC will award licences to the winners after the first payment is placed.