Wireless Federation

DTAC launches new internet SIM cards (Thailand)

On 11.30.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile operator DTAC has reportedly launched two new internet SIM cards, the Happy Internet Sim card for feature phones and the Happy Smartphone Sim card for smartphones and tablets, which offers users with internet speeds up to 42 Mbps.

According to reports, the Happy Internet SIM offers users 300 internet minutes per month along with free airtime worth US$ 1.6 per month for a period of four months. Further, customers recharging their account with US$ 9.5 in the month are also provided access to DTAC’s 3G internet service at a speed of 384 Kbps.

On the other hand, consumers using the Happy Smartphone SIM are given 50 MB of data along with free on-net calls worth US$ 1.6 per month for a period of six months, with access to DTAC’s 3G internet service at a speed of 42 Mbps, on a recharge of US$ 9.5 in the month.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: DTAC • Happy • internet SIM cards

CAT Telecom plans to launch 3G services in January 2012 (Thailand)

On 11.29.11, In Mobile, By Editor

CAT Telecom, the state owned telecommunications firm in Thailand, is reportedly planning to launch its 3G services under the brand name ‘My’ by January next year. According to reports, the operator is also planning to present a proposal to its board members, allowing concessionaires to buy back their mobile network before the expiration of the contract.

As per sources, the ministry of Information Communications Technology (ICT) has permitted CAT to draft its network sales plan. Reports reveal that TrueMove, DigitalPhone and DTAC are operating services based on concessions from the state owned operator. TrueMove had reportedly made an offer of US$ 318.4 million for its mobile network, which was considered to be less by CAT.

The concession contracts for TrueMove and DigitalPhone are expected to end in 2013 whereas DTAC’s concession contract expires in 2018, after which they will have to transfer their networks to CAT Telecom as per the build-operate-transfer agreement.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • CAT Telecom • DigitalPhone • DTAC • Thailand • TrueMove

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

DTAC, TrueMove reject CAT’s compensation offer (Thailand)

On 03.24.11, In Mobile, By Editor

If sources are to be believed, Thailand government committee dealing with compensation for concession amendments has failed to conclude an agreement with DTAC or TrueMove.

As per sources, the private mobile operators did not accept the compensation proposal from concession owner CAT Telecom in the talks organized by the committee.

State-owned telecommunications firm, CAT Telecom, is seeking US$741.65 million from DTAC over losses from past amendments to the concession agreement and US$271.22 million from TrueMove. The private mobile operators rejected CAT’s proposal and did not propose their own figures. The committee plans to hold talks with TrueMove and DTAC again shortly.

The committee is also in talks with Advanced Info Service for a similar case with concession owner TOT. The Council of State ruled in 2007 that some telecom concession amendments did not comply with the 1992 Public-Private Joint Venture Act.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: CAT • DTAC • operators • Public-Private Joint Venture Act • Thailand • TrueMove

Thailand’s ICT minister to propose fresh bids

On 03.07.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) minister has stated that he is prepared to submit his proposal to the cabinet to invite foreign telecom firms to take over the concessions of local mobile operators if they fail to pay compensation for past concession amendments.

According to Juti Krairiksh, the proposal would apply to all three mobile operators- Advanced Info Service (AIS), DTAC and True Move, if compensation negotiations fail.

The minister and executives of TOT Plc met in Spain last month with executives of eight international telecom companies to discuss the possibility of selling the concession of mobile leader AIS to them.

The eight are Telecom Italia of Italy, China Mobile, NTT DoCoMo of Japan, SK Telecom of South Korea, Axiata of Malaysia, and three US operators.

Mr Juti insisted the ministry would not intervene in continuing negotiations between an ICT Ministry committee, private operators and state enterprises on compensation figures.

However, he acknowledged that negotiations were unlikely to be settled amicably given the wide gap in the stances of TOT and CAT Telecom and the private operators.

TOT and CAT, despite having approved the concession amendments, some made as long as 15 years ago, are seeking tens of billions of baht to cover losses from deals that they say favored the operators.

Juti added that if concession negotiations cannot be settled, the matter reverts to the ICT ministry, so he will submit the proposal to the cabinet for consideration. Then, he will announce the opportunity for prospective foreign operators to submit their proposals to take over the mobile concessions from operators that could not settle with the state.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Advanced Info Service • AIS • Axiata • CAT • China • China Mobile • DTAC • ICT • Information and Communications Technology • Italy • Japan • Juti Krairiksh • Malaysia • Mobile • NTT DoCoMo • SK Telecom • South Korea • Spain • Telecom Italia • TOT Plc • True Move • U.S

CAT grants permission to DTAC for commercial 3G service (Thailand)

On 02.17.11, In Mobile, By Editor

CAT Telecom has given approval to DTAC to commercially launch 3G wireless broadband services in mid-March.

Telenor subsidiary DTAC, which offers services via a build-transfer-operate (BTO) concession with CAT, currently provides trial 3G W-CDMA/HSPA-based services in the 850MHz band.

Following two years of complaining that CAT had favored fellow BTO licensee True Move by permitting the latter to expand 3G trial coverage in December 2010 CAT’s board announced that DTAC could upgrade up to 1,220 base stations for pre-commercial 850MHz HSPA, up from an existing 36 sites.

Both this decision and the latest announcement are viewed from some quarters as an attempt to defuse criticism of CAT for January’s hastily arranged 14-year agreement with True Move to jointly market 3G HSPA-based services as part of True’s takeover of the â€˜Hutch’ CDMA business (formed as a joint venture of CAT and Hong Kong’s Hutchison Telecom).

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • CAT Telecom • CDMA • DTAC • EDGE • GPRS • Hong Kong • Hutch • Hutchison Telecom • Mobile • President Jirayuth Roongsrithong • True Move • W-CDMA/HSPA

DTAC launches Happy F Club SIM (Thailand)

On 02.15.11, In Mobile, By Editor

DTAC has teamed up with Yamaha for a promotional campaign for its Happy prepaid brand. The operator offers a Happy Fiore refill card which will also offer one entry into the draw for one of twenty Yamaha Fiore motorcycles.

The campaign runs until 15 April. DTAC also offers a Happy F Club SIM card that targets young mobile users. The SIM is available only at Yamaha distributors. The SIM offers on-net calls at US$0.04 per minute between 10pm and 10am and calls at other times or to other networks are charged at US$0.03 per minute.

On-net SMS messages cost US$0.005 and internet access is priced at US$0.0055 per minute between 5am and 5pm. Customers can also pick a special DTAC number for 60 minutes of free calls for free months.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: DTAC • Happy F Club SIM card • Happy Fiore refill card • Mobile • motorcycles • Promotional Campaign • Thailand • Yamaha • Yamaha Fiore

DTAC wants same contract terms as True Move (Thailand)

On 02.09.11, In Mobile, By Editor

DTAC has asked its mobile concession owner CAT Telecom to revises their contracts to bring them in line with the recent contracts with rival True.

True’s mobile unit TrueMove had signed a deal to buy the Hutch mobile business last year and recently entered into a fourteen-year contract with CAT for wholesaling and reselling of services, including 3G.

According to DTAC Chief Executive Tore Johnsen, it is waiting for the response to the letter that DTAC has sent to CAT asking for talks on the True-CAT deals. They want CAT to revise their concessions to similar terms and conditions to those of the True-CAT deal in terms of revenue-sharing and the right of network equipment.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • CAT Telecom • DTAC • DTAC Chief Executive Tore Johnsen • Hutch mobile business • Mobile • Mobile Unit • Thailand • True • TrueMove

Ericsson inks DTAC 3G network upgradation deal (Thailand)

On 01.28.11, In Mobile, By Editor

DTAC has signed its first contract with Ericsson to modernize its nationwide GSM/EDGE network, and prepare for future 3G network upgrades.

Ericsson will also support in managing the network during the first year of operation, and will also supply and integrate the Messaging in One platform, and provide network launch and manage services during the first year of launch and operation.

According to Rolf Marthinusen, CTO of DTAC, this modernization will provide a more efficient and capable network that is well suited to today’s demands, and readies them for 3G and 4G/LTE. This gives them a strong roadmap for years to come, so DTAC can continue to deliver leading services to Thai consumers and business users. Through Ericsson’s combination of technology and services expertise they feel confident that this live upgrade of their network will be managed in a smooth way.

The contract includes Ericsson’s RBS 6000 multi-standard radio base stations, MSC Server Blade Cluster and User Data Management, as well as its mobile packet core and circuit core solutions.

Financial and timeline details were not provided.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • 4G/LTE • circuit core solutions • CTO • DTAC • Ericsson • GSM/EDGE network • Mobile • mobile packet core • MSC Server Blade Cluster • Network Upgrades • One platform • RBS 6000 multi-standard radio base stations • Rolf Marthinusen • User Data Management

DTAC to spend $1 billion on 3G development (Thailand)

On 01.11.11, In Mobile, By Editor

If reports are to be believed, Thailand’s second largest cellco by users, Digital Total Access Communication (DTAC) is planning to spend US$33 million to expand 3G UMTS base stations.

It is also reported that the expansion would be done using the 850MHz frequency band, following recent permission from state-run CAT Telecom to expand its trial W-CDMA/HSPA service by an additional 1,220 sites.

CAT issued the Build Transfer Operate (BTO) network revenue-sharing concession under which DTAC operates.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • 3G UMTS base station • Build Transfer Operate (BTO) network • CAT Telecom • DTAC • Mobile • Thailand • W-CDMA/HSPA