\tOperators in Thailand backtracked on a plan to decommission their 2G networks, telling the nation\u2019s regulator they would continue to deliver services to avoid potential problems for customers, Bangkok Post reported.<\/p>\n
AIS, True Move and dtac had petitioned the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in 2018 to allow them to terminate the networks to use the spectrum for other services. A mandate to do so was issued in January with the shutdown scheduled for October.<\/p>\n
But the trio had a change of heart, prompting the NBTC to scrap the move.<\/p>\n
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith told Bangkok Post the operators are likely to revisit the plan in a few years, noting they would have to prepare to migrate customers to their 3G and 4G networks.<\/p>\n
GSMA Intelligence figures showed AIS had 864,000 2G subscribers at end-September (2 per cent of its total base), True Move 510,000 and dtac 325,000.<\/p>\n
Pisut Ngamvijitwong, a senior analyst of Kasikorn Securities, told the newspaper he was surprised by the reversal, noting 2G services generate only about THB100 ($3.29) per subscriber per month.<\/p>\n
AIS runs 2G service on the 900MHz band, while True Move and dtac use the 1800MHz band.<\/p>\n
The urgency for refarming those bands diminished since all three operators acquired 2x10MHz blocks in the 700MHz band [1] in June.<\/p>\n[1] https:\/\/www.mobileworldlive.com\/asia\/asia-news\/thai-700mhz-saga-approaches-climax\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Operators in Thailand backtracked on a plan to decommission their 2G networks, telling the nation’s …<\/p>\n
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