Telcoms ordered to dump 2G to make way for 4G

The masters of Thai spectra will auction off another slice of the airwaves to power 4G communications in August.

Two expired licenses held by AIS and True Move in the 1,800 MHz range have expired, and broadcast regulators will put them back on the auction block with bidding to start at THB11.6 billion. To achieve this, the two telecoms must cease their 2G services, which now operate in ranges needed for the 4G service.

A 12.5 MHz slice of the spectrum will go to auction in August, pending final approval after a public hearing next month.

True Move and AIS must end their 2G transmissions using those frequencies by Sep. 15. Regulators gave them until July to migrate users to other networks. A request from True Move to automatically port its customer base to another of the company’s services was denied.  About 7 million True Move subscribers will be affected.

The new spectrum licenses will be valid for 19 years, according to Thai PBS.

Another auction for 4G communications in the 900 MHz spectrum could happen this November, as the AIS-held range will expire September, 2015.