Thai Advanced Info moves to 3G in 2006

August 18, 2004

Thailand's largest mobile phone operator Advanced Info Service will likely make significant investment in 2006 to upgrade its network to 3G mobile phone technology.

Boonklee Plagsiri, Executive Chairman at Advanced parent Shin Corp., said Advanced would not make any huge capital expenditure until 2006, which will be a good time to invest in 3G because the technology will be more mature by then.

In addition, Boonklee said he expects to see major changes in the telecom industry next year if the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) can be set up this month. The agency will act as a telecom industry regulator and implement the government's liberalization plan.

The Senate is expected make its decision on the Commission's membership next week and once it has been established, existing mobile phone operators would likely change their existing service licenses to new ones.

"There will be no change in telecom regulations this year. I think it will take 6-8 months before the NTC can announce new licenses," Boonklee said.

He expects the NTC licenses to be cheaper than the current ones.