The GSMA, the global trade association for the mobile industry, urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) of Thailand to license the 2100MHz spectrum band for 3G services by August 2008. The rollout of 3G, enhanced by HSPA*, will greatly improve the availability of broadband services in Thailand – only 2.2%** of households have broadband connections today and the country lags behind many of its neighbours in this respect.

“Laying new fixed line connections is expensive and inefficient so high-speed mobile networks are Thailand’s best bet to realize the many social and economic benefits that arise from widespread access to broadband services,” said Ricardo Tavares, Senior Vice President for Public Policy of the GSMA. “Although refarming the 900MHz and 850MHz bands will help kickstart the Mobile Broadband market, it is also important that the licensing of the 2100MHz band proceeds at a fast pace, as many 3G and HSPA devices are designed for use in this globally harmonised band.”

All three GSM mobile operators in Thailand—AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove—believe the market is ready for 3G. Operators are eager to offer HSPA Mobile Broadband services to satisfy Thailand’s pent up demand for high-speed connections to the Internet and other multimedia services. Thailand has a mature 2G market with 56.2 million mobile subscribers (98.2% of them GSM), representing a mobile penetration of 88.3%, one of the highest of the Asia Pacific region***.

* HSPA – High Speed Packet Access is an upgrade to 3G networks that use the W-CDMA air interface.
** GlobalComms
***Wireless Intelligence

About the GSMA:

The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association representing more than 750 GSM mobile phone operators across 218 countries and territories of the world. The Association’s members represent more than 3 billion GSM and 3GSM connections – over 86% of the world’s mobile phone connections. In addition, more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association’s initiatives as key partners.

The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure mobile phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible, enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers.

Mark Smith or David Pringle
GSMA
Email: [email protected]