The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has approved the termination of 2G mobile phone service on Oct 31 this year to pave the way for the 5G adoption.
Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the NBTC, said on Tuesday that the NBTC board resolved to shut down the 2G mobile service on Oct 31 this year as proposed by the three major mobile phone operators.
Advanced Info Service (AIS), through its subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network (AWN), Total Access Communication's (DTAC) TriNet and True Move H Universal Communication (TUC) earlier submitted letters to the telecom regulator asking for the termination of the 2G mobile service.
During Tuesday's meeting, the NBTC board also agreed with the NBTC’s proposal on a public relations plan to inform 2G users about the termination and the scrapping of requirements for the inspection of radio communications using GSM technology.
Importers and suppliers of equipment using this system would be asked to stop bringing in the devices and the three mobile phone operators were asked to submit their plans to terminate the 2G mobile phone service to the NBTC, which would report to the cabinet for the termination of the service.
Currently, there are about 4.9 million subscribers using 2G networks. Of the total, 1.9 million subscribe to AIS, 2 million to DTAC and the remaining to TUC, Thai media reported.