Thai broadband operator TT&T plans to bid for Wimax spectrum, which is set to be auctioned in February, according to a company source.
The TT&T source expects four blocks of spectrum to be auctioned at 2.3Ghz.
The other most likely bidders, he says, are TOT, CAT Telecom and True.
“TT&T is aiming for 500,000 Wimax subscribers within two years of launching,” says the source.
The firm aims to persuade 200,000 of its existing DSL subscribers to take Wimax-DSL bundled services, as well as attracting 300,000 new Wimax customers.
TT&T plans to target the greater Bangkok market, which is currently dominated by True (70% of broadband market share) and TOT, with Wimax.
The source says the firm has already started rolling out Wimax base stations in Bangkok and regional area in anticipation of the auction in February.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will start accepting license applications in November, with a view to allocating spectrum in February, said the Nation.
NTC commissioner Natee Sukonrat is reportedly chairman of a new committee that is finalizing the Wimax licensing process.
“The biggest issue here is how long it takes the NTC to reclaim the 2.3Ghz spectrum from the various current holders of the spectrum,” according to Tony Brown, senior analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media.
“If there is too lengthy a delay in the 2.3Ghz Wimax spectrum being handed back to the NTC then it is quite likely that the 2.1Ghz 3G licensees – presuming they launch by 4Q10/1Q11 as expected – will gain a significant early mover advantage.
“There is no time to waste here for the Wimax aspirants, they need to keep the pressure on the NTC to move the licensing process as fast as possible.”