True Move has become Thailand’s second operator to launch commercial 5G services after receiving its 2.6GHz spectrum licence.
Regulator NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) issued the licence after True Move paid a requisite 10% of its total bid while providing a bank guarantee for the remainder.
True Move obtained 90MHz of 2.6GHz spectrum at 5G auctions held last month, spending a total of THB21.45 billion ($668 million) on this holding as well as 800MHz of 26GHz spectrum.
Having conducted 5G trials throughout 2019, True Move has a nationwide 400-strong network of 5G base stations operating in the 2.6GHz band. The operator’s board is in the process of decided the budget for its 5G deployment, reports The Bangkok Post.
Sarit Jinnasith, co-president of True Move, noted that customers already on unlimited data tariffs would be able to upgrade to 5G tariffs free of charge.
Based on subscriber numbers, True Move places second in the market behind AIS. The market leader paid the first installment for its newly acquired spectrum on 21st February and promptly began offering services in Thailand’s main cities.
AIS has earmarked an initial budget of THB10 billion to THB15 billion for the deployment, which will take place across the next year in the 2.6GHz band.
