DTAC puts B5bn more toward 3G
SRISAMORN PHOOSUPHANUSORN

DTAC, the second-ranked mobile operator, has earmarked an additional investment of five billion baht for its third-generation (3G) mobile broadband plan early next year to further strengthen its competitive edge. The company had already slated five billion baht to increase network capacity and develop 3G content.

DTAC earlier planned to make 3G available nationwide by mid-2009 under a five-billion-baht investment scheme.

The company plans to introduce 3G services in three phases. The 1.2-billion-baht first phase will cover Bangkok in the first quarter of next year with 700 to 800 base stations. The second phase would cover Greater Bangkok as well as Chon Buri and Phuket, followed by the third phase covering the rest of the country.

The first phase would focus on wireless broadband services available to laptop computers. Services would be expanded nationwide in the second stage to 3G handsets.

CEO Sigve Brekke said an additional five billion baht is needed to ensure the company's competitive leadership in 3G services in areas of nationwide network coverage, high-speed mobile broadband and innovative content.

Mr Brekke said he was confident that DTAC will be the sole operator offering 3G service nationwide for at least one year, given its advantage of abundant analogue 850 megahertz frequency that provides wider coverage capacity.

He said DTAC was going ahead with the first phase of 3G development without any concern over political tensions.

''We expect to provide 3G services in Bangkok in the first quarter of next year and nationwide service by mid-2009 as scheduled,'' he said.

Mr Brekke admitted that its parent Telenor of Norway was closely monitoring the political situation in Thailand, but expressed no concern about it.

He also said that DTAC would not need to revise revenue and subscriber growth targets for a second time as he believed people still needed communications even if political conditions were to worsen.

Bangkok Post