Thai telecom regulator NBTC is considering introducing a cap on the amount of spectrum any one operator is entitled to hold, to help open the market up to new competition.
Under the proposal, the government may prevent operators from owning more than 60MHz of spectrum, including the 4G frequencies due to be auctioned later this year.
The Bangkok Post quotes NBTC secretary general Takorn Tantasith as stating that a cap is needed to strike a balance between allowing incumbents to expand their presence and allowing new entrants into the market.
If the NBTC proceeds with implementing the cap, Thailand's second largest mobile operator DTAC will be hardest hit, as it has 75 MHz of bandwidth spread out across various frequencies.
But DTAC parent Telenor has asserted that because 60 MHz of its holdings were allocated under the old concession model, that spectrum is owned by its concession holder, state-owned CAT telecom. Therefore, the operator has asserted, a spectrum cap should not apply.
The NBTC plans to add details of the spectrum cap to the draft designs for the 1800-MHz and 900-MHz 4G auctions due to take place in November and December respectively, the report states.
An operator with over 60 MHz of spectrum would still be able to take place in the auctions, but a winning bidder would have to return enough of its existing spectrum to keep it below the 60 MHz cap.