Ericsson inks DTAC 3G network upgradation deal (Thailand)
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.
DTAC to spend $1 billion on 3G development (Thailand)
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.
CAT permits DTAC, True 3G trials expansion (Thailand)
CAT, the board of state-owned Telecom has approved plans for private sector mobile operators Digital Total Access Communication (DTAC) and True Move to expand their number of cell sites for 3G operations in the 850MHz frequency band.
DTAC and True currently provide wireless services under build-transfer-operate (BTO) allowances granted by CAT, and are required to pay a percentage of their revenues to the government-owned telco.
According to CAT’s board, True Move may construct 1,400 additional cell sites and DTAC 1,220 more sites to expand trial 3G mobile services.
The new announcement comes after DTAC petitioned the government last month to intervene in what it described as unfair treatment by CAT.
According to DTAC Chief Executive, Tore Johnsen, CAT had only allowed DTAC 36 sites for its HSPA trial service while True Move had over 600 sites.
First phase of mobile number portability expected by the weekend (Bangkok)
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.
Thailand MNP set to launch on 15 December
If reports are to be believed, Thailand’s Five mobile network operators: AIS, DTAC, True Move, CAT Telecom and TOT have made a joint commitment to launch mobile number portability (MNP) on 15 December.
The group represents all the country’s cellular network operators except Hutchison CAT Wireless Multimedia, a joint venture of CAT which the state-run telco is in the process of taking full control over. End users will be able to port a number for a fee of US$3.25.
MNP enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another.
DTAC revenue up 13.2%, says MNP will launch by December end
DTAC, Thailand’s second largest cellco by users, has revealed its quarter results. The company’s subscriber base reached increased to 20.9 million at the end of September 2010, compared to 296,000 in three months. The company recorded 6,000 post-paid net additions in Q3 for a total of 2.312 million and its pre-paid base increasing by a net 290,000 taking it to a total of 18.623 million.
The company revealed its third-quarter net profit increased 87.7% to US$102.2 million on higher revenues from telephony services up to US$587.87 million from US$353.64 million a year earlier and smartphone handset sales which enlarged to US$21.43 million compare to last year
Total turnover boosted to 614.32 million in the three months to the end of September, up 13.2% from the previous year. Quarterly EBITDA raised 38.1% y-o-y to US$234.34 million.
DTAC also announced that implementation of a Mobile Number Portability (MNP) system is in the final stage and the service is expected to be launched by year-end 2010. All of Thailand’s mobile operators have been subject to daily fines from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) since failing to meet the Thai regulator’s end-August deadline for launching MNP.
AIS, DTAC, True cleared for 3G bids; CAT aspires to block the process
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has announced that the AIS, DTAC and True Move, the three Thai Telecos which submitted the only bids for next week’s scheduled 2100MHz 3G license auctions have qualified to enter the contest.
Two licenses are up to grab a preliminary round with a starting price of US$423 million, at the same time as a third license will be put up for auction within 90 days.
However, according to reports, the state-owned CAT Telecom is planning to submit an appeal to the Central Administrative Court on Monday in an attempt to block the process. As per the report its interests will be damaged by the auction and that the NTC has no authority to offer the 3G licenses. A similar blocking lawsuit from a representative of CAT’s sister telco TOT was recently turned down by the court.
Thailand 3G Roll Out process finally initiates: DTAC Ready to start services soon
The 3G process has finally started in Thailand. According to DTAC CEO Tore Johnsen, the 3G process is finally here but the hybrid licensing regime will be expensive and burdensome for operators.
The 3G licensing system has fee that are substantially lower than what we pay today in revenue share, he stated in the keynote at the GSMA’s annual Asian roaming conference. This puts a lot pressure on everyone to change, because one has to adjust to a licensing system, which is common in most countries, but DTAC still have the old system in parallel. While the country’s existing mobile concessions expire between 2013 and 2018 and will be converted to licenses or terminated, Thailand needed to enter into a complete licensing regime.
The Minister of Finance and the Ministry of ICT are both working on it. If that happens, it would make the systems much easier and you could offer even more competitive pricing than with two different systems.
Five Bidders for the Thai 3G auction scheduled for September 28-29
Five companies bought bid documents for the 3G license auction scheduled for September 28-29 when the National Telecommunications Commission opened the sale of documents on Tuesday
According to the reports, AIS, DTAC and True Corp the three main operators of Thailand have bought bid documents for the 3G auction. The other two applicants are Samart and Loxley who operates as in MVNOs.
All the three operators bought two bid documents each AIS for itself and its subordinate AWN, DTAC for itself and its unit DTAC Internet Service, and True for its two units True Move and SK Wireless, while only one operating company from each will be able to take part.
The government has set a reserve price for a 15-year license of $403.1 million. Operators can file their bid proposals by the end of this month.
AIS has dedicated US$ 1.578 million to developing 3G services over the next three years. According to MVNO Loxley, it was in talks with an Asian company to form a possible JV to bid for a licence. The establish investment of the JV would be around US$ 0.946 million.
According to Samart President Watchai Vilailuck., Samart is considering following Loxley’s track. The company is in talks with Malaysian giant Axiata and another Asian telco over forming a JV for the purpose. The venture would have initial funding of US$ 0.631 million and about 51% would be owned by Samart’s MVNO unit Samart I-Mobile. The company would wait until the results of a feasibility study to determine whether the project would be worth its hefty price tag.
