Two international mobile operators – from Malaysia and South Korea – have reportedly expressed interest in participating in Thailand’s 700MHz spectrum auction, if the reserve price of the frequencies is not based on the previous licence auction. The Bangkok Post cited Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), as saying that representatives of the two companies had recently met with him, inquiring about auction details: ‘They are waiting for a final draft of the 700MHz auction conditions after the public hearing, with expectation that the reserve price of the licence will be attractive for investment.’
As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, earlier this month the NBTC approved a draft document containing the auction conditions for the 700MHz spectrum auction. The regulator is planning to tender seven slots of 5MHz each, with 20-year validity. Winning bidders will have to pay a first instalment in the first year (20% of the winning price), with the remaining nine instalments (of 10% each) due from the third year onwards. A public hearing is expected to be held in February, with the auction currently slated for May 2019.