ADVANCED INFO SERVICE (AIS) has offered MCOT the use of its mobile network code, so that both parties can start a joint trial of beaming MCOT’s 2.6 gigahertz to provide a pay-TV service on a telecom network.
Total Access Communication (DTAC) sent a letter to inform the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) that whenever the regulator allows MCOT to use the 2.6GHz band to provide a telecom service, it would be interested in partnering the broadcaster to develop the service.
An MCOT source said that AIS informed MCOT that last week AIS asked the NBTC to allow MCOT to jointly use AIS’s network code. This would enable them to achieve the plan to test using the 2.6GHz spectrum to provide the pay TV service on a long-term-evolution (LTE) 4G network. The network code is for the telecom operators to identify themselves when their mobile phone networks connect with other mobile phone networks.
MCOT has reached an agreement with AIS subsidiary, Advanced Wireless Network, and True Corp subsidiary, TrueMove H Universal Communication, for both telcos to set up the LTE network for MCOT to test broadcasting the pay TV signal.
ADVANCED INFO SERVICE (AIS) has offered MCOT the use of its mobile network code, so that both parties can start a joint trial of beaming MCOT’s 2.6 gigahertz to provide a pay-TV service on a telecom network.
Total Access Communication (DTAC) sent a letter to inform the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) that whenever the regulator allows MCOT to use the 2.6GHz band to provide a telecom service, it would be interested in partnering the broadcaster to develop the service.
An MCOT source said that AIS informed MCOT that last week AIS asked the NBTC to allow MCOT to jointly use AIS’s network code. This would enable them to achieve the plan to test using the 2.6GHz spectrum to provide the pay TV service on a long-term-evolution (LTE) 4G network. The network code is for the telecom operators to identify themselves when their mobile phone networks connect with other mobile phone networks.
MCOT has reached an agreement with AIS subsidiary, Advanced Wireless Network, and True Corp subsidiary, TrueMove H Universal Communication, for both telcos to set up the LTE network for MCOT to test broadcasting the pay TV signal.
MCOT asked for the network code from NBTC for the first time last November but the watchdog’s broadcasting committee declined to grant to it, citing that the code is only for telecom operators. The lack of a network code means MCOT cannot test providing the pay TV service on the LTE network using 2.6GHz.
Earlier, MCOT asked AIS, DTAC and True to join the test airing of the pay-TV service on 2.6GHz but only AIS and True took part. DTAC declined to participate based on a view that the NBTC allows MCOT to use the band only for a broadcasting service.
A telecom industry observer said that telecom operators were keen to partner with state agencies to co-use their spectra. This would pave the way for them to gain additional bandwidth without the need to bid for pricey spectrum licences.
It is unclear if MCOT has rights to the 2.6GHz band. The NBTC panel assigned to study state agencies’ spectrum ownership ruled recently that MCOT no longer has rights over the band, contradicting an earlier NBTC ruling.
MCOT reportedly wants to test using the 2.6GHz to confirm its ownership of the spectra to the NBTC. This would enable MCOT to be compensated by the NBTC when it returns part of the spectra to the watchdog.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/business/corporate/30305736