Wireless Federation

TrueMove H launches 3G services in Bangkok

On 08.31.11, In Mobile Operators, By Editor

TrueMove H, Thailand’s third largest mobile operator launched 3G wireless broadband services in Bangkok and 16 other provinces. The company launched the service under the slogan ‘Free You’ and plans to introduce five phases at a combined cost of $831.7 million. The spectrum using the high speed packet access (HSPA) technology, will offer the company WiFi internet speed capability of 8Mbps.

As per reports, CEO of Thailand’s True Corp, Supachai Chearavanont says that True will spend $6.6 million on an initial marketing campaign for TrueMove H, expected to be launched next month. The aim is to acquire 1 million users by year end as compared to the current customer base of 1 Lac. In its aim to be the market leader in 3G services, TrueMove H faces tough competition from Advanced Info Service (AIS) and Digital Total Access Communication (DTAC).

Filed under:Mobile Operators Tagged with: 3G • AIS • Bangkok • DTAC • HSPA • Supachai Chearavanont • Thailand • TrueMove H

DPC seeks LTE testing permission (Thailand)

On 03.15.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Thai mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS)’s subsidiary, Digital Phone Company (DPC) has reportedly asked its build-transfer-operate (BTO) concession issuer CAT Telecom for permission to test 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband technology.

According to sources, DPC is planning to test LTE equipment from Huawei, ZTE and Ericsson. Each vendor will require permission from the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) before carrying out the tests, to be applied for in parallel to DPC’s request to CAT.

It is also reported that DPC will set aside as much as 10MHz bandwidth for the 4G trial, out of its total 12.5MHz of allocated 1800MHz spectrum. The test will be run for 90 days on seven or eight base stations in Bangkok.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 4G • Advanced Info Service • AIS • Bangkok • BTO • build-transfer-operate • CAT Telecom • Digital Phone Company • DPC • LTE • Mobile • NTC • Thailand

Mobile operators in Thailand forge ahead despite 3G setback

On 01.06.11, In Mobile, By Editor

A new research report has revealed that despite the delayed auctioning of 3G spectrum in Thailand, mobile operators are moving forward with their 3G plans as data services continue to be the main driver of growth.

According to sources, operators have moved forward with 3G implementation in two ways: 1) receiving approval to upgrade networks to HSPA, and 2) signing MVNO agreements with TOT. These solutions would serve as stopgap measures before the 3G auction, which could happen by early 2012.

TOT is currently the only 2.1GHz 3G operator, serving the greater Bangkok region. TOT plans to invest $648 million in HSPA to cover 50 percent of the population by mid-2011, giving TOT a head start over the competition. Data services have been the main driver of growth in the mobile market this year, which is why operators are eager to forge ahead with 3G before the auction.

According to the report, smartphone sales grew strongly at 18% from 2008 to 2010, and are expected to grow at an even higher 30% CAGR from 2010 to 2015. Along with this growth, usage of data applications like email, video, and Internet browsing will grow, as well. Data cards will exhibit the highest growth at a 63% CAGR, as 3G networks, which currently are only operated by TOT and only cover the Bangkok area, are extended to cover 50% of the population by June 2011.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G spectrum • Bangkok • CAGR • Data Cards • HSPA • Mobile • MVNO • Thailand • TOT • USA

TOT resumes talks with AIS (Thailand)

On 12.15.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Thailand’s telco TOT has resumed talks with the country’s largest cellco by subscribers, Advanced Info Service (AIS), to discuss a deal under which AIS may join the existing resellers offering 3G services over TOT’s Bangkok W-CDMA/HSPA network.

AIS, which already offers 3G in the UMTS-900 band in selected areas of the country, would operate as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) under a six-month contract if a deal went through, as TOT wants to get the first stage of its national 3G network project under way not expected until around April 2011 before it signs new three-year contracts with additional MVNOs.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • AIS • Bangkok • HSPA • Mobile • MVNO • Thailand • TOT • UMTS-900 • W-CDMA

First phase of mobile number portability expected by the weekend (Bangkok)

On 12.01.10, In Mobile, By Editor

The long-awaited mobile number portability (MNP) service in Bangkok is expected to be ready for a soft launch on Dec 5, 10 days before it was required.

According to Premon Pinskul, Chairman of Clearing House for Number Portability Co, but only 500 mobile phone numbers a day would initially be allowed to use the services at 25 designated service locations in Bangkok. The company was jointly established by a consortium of five private and state telecom firms: AIS, DTAC, True Move, TOT and CAT Telecom.

According to Mr Premon, who is also the deputy Chief Financial Officer of DTAC, the five operators are ready to kick off the MNP trial this Sunday to test the whole system, before launching a full version of their services throughout the country by January 2011.

The first phase will allow mobile users to keep their existing numbers when they switch operators. The second phase will cover fixed-line numbers.

Customers will be charged US$3.28 to transfer their old numbers to new operators and the switch should be completed within three working days. Customers must stay with the new operator for at least three months before making another change. Postpaid customers will be required to bring their ID cards and latest payment statements in exchange for MNP service. Prepaid customers, 90% of all users, will need to register accounts with their operators’ networks before applying for MNP.

According to Suranand Wongwittayakamjorn, a NTC commissioner, prepaid customers will not be able to transfer unused call value and validity from one operator to another because there is no regulation to support it.

As per Mr Premon, the testing variability of the operators’ clearinghouse system was minimized to pre-test the system and resolve problems step-by-step. All necessary activities related to the implementation of MNP should be completed by Dec 31.

Starting from Dec 5, each operator would limit the service to 100 customers per day at five designated service locations in Bangkok. Operators plan to increase their capacity to serve up to 500 numbers per day each, with more locations from Dec 15.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: AIS • Bangkok • CAT Telecom • Chairman of Clearing House for Number Portability Co • DTAC • First Phase • MNP • Mobile • postpaid • Premon Pinskul • Prepaid • TOT • True Move

Thai Operators to Launch MNP in December

On 11.25.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Thailand’s mobile network operators have confirmed that they will launch the delayed mobile number portability (MNP) service before the end of the year, but only in the capital city, Bangkok.

According to Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn, a commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the service will be available only in some service centres of the telecom operators. Therefore, during the initial phase, those in the provinces who want to keep their mobile-phone numbers when they switch networks will have to travel to Bangkok to ask for the service.

He added that the telecom operators would gradually expand the MNP service nationwide soon. They will announce the full details of the service next week.

The country’s five operators are currently appealing against fines of US$5,500 per day for missing the already delayed August deadline.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bangkok • MNP • Mobile • Mobile Network • NTC • Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn • Thailand

LUXE City Guides launches mobile app

On 04.14.10, In Mobile Marketing, By Editor

LUXE City Guides, the stylist pocket travel guides is all set to release its Mobile edition for iPhone and Blackberry along with handsets from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and HTC.

Priced at £5.99, the app comes with a year of free updates sent directly to the phone, plus a discount of 50% on the second year’s subscription. The app will cover 10 destinations initially including New York, Hong Kong, Paris, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Rome, Bali, Sydney, and Bangkok – with 20 more international destinations coming soon.

Filed under:Mobile Marketing Tagged with: Bali • Bangkok • Blackberry • Ericsson • Gap • handset • Hong Kong • HTC • iPhone • London • LUXE City • New York • Nokia • Paris • Rome • Samsung • Shanghai • Singapore • Sony • Sony Ericsson • Sydney

MVNO’s protest delays AIS and TOT 3G tie-ups

On 02.02.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Thailand’s mobile market leader Advanced Info Service (AIS) will have to wait for another four to six months before beginning the proposed data roaming service on the state enterprise’s 2100MHz 3G networks.

The decision has been taken by the board of Thai state-run telco TOT in order to give its contracted mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) some marketing leeway. AIS, operating as a small-scale 3G network using 900MHz frequency have been proposed to offer its users 3G data roaming on TOT’s 2100MHz network today for a trial period.

However, TOT has faced an outcry from the five MVNOs Loxley, Samart I-Mobile, 365 Communication, IEC International and M Consultant Corporation, who are committed to reselling services over the TOT 3G networks which launched in Bangkok in December 2009.

According to AIS chief executive Wichian Mektrakarn, Shin Corp-owned cellco had told TOT that it would cease the voice roaming service pending consultation with the National Telecoms Commission (NTC), in addition to suspending a pricing agreement with TOT under which the latter’s customers are charged THB0.60 (USD0.018) a minute for roaming instead of THB1.10.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Advanced Info Service • AIS • ASIA • Bangkok • Data Roaming • MVNO • operator • Thailand • TOT

TOT launches 3G network in Thailand

On 12.05.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The launch of 3G network by Thailand’s state-controlled mobile network TOT got a cold response from the subscribers. However, initially the network will be available only in Bangkok and the areas surrounding it. Expansion of the network in the near future relies on the auction of the 3G license.

National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will offer four licenses- three of 10 Mhz and a fourth with 15Mhz of radio spectrum while the reserve price will range between US$100-US$200 million. The process will not take place until next year as there is a lack of executives to form a quorum.

Small trials of 3G networks are already run by the current operators over their existing GSM radio spectrum, while CAT Telecom which is a CDMA operator, is seeking an overseas investor to assist in 3G rollout plans

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G license • 3G networks • ASIA • Auction • Bangkok • CAT Telecom • CDMA • GSM • Investor • Launch • Licenses • national telecommunications • National Telecommunications Commission • Network • operator • overseas investor • quorum • Radio Spectrum • rollout plans • spectrum • Subscribers • Telecommunications • telecommunications commission • Thailand • TOT

Loxley partners MPG for wireless broadband service on TOT (Thailand)

On 12.03.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In order to enhance the operation of its mobile virtual network, Loxley announced its partnership with UK-based Mobile Partners Group (MPG). MPG will provide 3G-2.1GHz wireless broadband service on TOT’s network in greater Bangkok.

Established in 2006, MPG’s purpose was to simplify mobile-service set-ups with selected partners. At present, it also enables brand names or companies that want to enter the mobile business as either an SP (service provider) or MVNO (mobile virtual network operator).

Loxley, 365 Communication, Samart I-Mobile (SIM), IEC and M Consultant were selected by TOT to provide 3G-service on an MVNO basis for its Bangkok network.

Loxley is investing Bt40 million on related systems and will run the service under i-KooL 3G brand. The company aims to lure about 30,000 customers as well as break even within 18 months.

According to executive vice president of Loxley, Suroj Lamsam, Loxley’s 3G services would enhance its close-circuit TV system management, existing IT solutions on fleet management, as well as electricity including water-meter management. All these services are offered to state and private enterprises.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G Service • ASIA • Bangkok • Broadband • close circuit tv • Lamsam • Loxley • Mobile Virtual Network Operator • MVNO • operator • partners group • Samart • system management • TOT • UK • Wireless Broadband Service