GSMA asks Thailand to release 700 MHz for mobile broadband

GSMA today renewed its call for the government of Thailand to allocate the 700 MHz band for mobile broadband services in full harmonisation with the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) band plan.

GSMA has made this in anticipation of a decision by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) whereby radio spectrum bands would be auctioned to broadcasters for digital television.

"This is a critical moment for the country, as the NBTC is about to choose a path for mobile spectrum that is either harmonised with the rest of Asia Pacific or one that will fragment the region, leading to costly outcomes for Thailand and its neighboring countries," said Tom Phillips, chief government and regulatory affairs officer, GSMA.

"We strongly believe that allocating the 'Digital Dividend' for mobile broadband is the right long-term choice, enabling the connectivity of all Thai people and bringing about enormous socio-economic benefits to the country and to the region," added Phillips.

The NBTC faces the question of how to allocate the spectrum that will be freed up when analogue television in Thailand is converted to digital terrestrial television (DTT), also known as the ‘Digital Dividend'.

While the NBTC has not yet agreed on a clear position, its decision will have enormous implications to the national economy, as demonstrated in a March 2013 report by the GSMA and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). If the 700 MHz band was allocated to mobile from 2015, it would generate $14.8 billion more in GDP by 2020 than if it was allocated to DTT broadcasting and would enable the creation of 55,000 additional jobs.

"Not only would the allocation of the 700 MHz band to mobile generate significant economic benefits to the country, it could bring about significant social benefits, including improved wealth distribution and cultural diversity, developmental services such as education and healthcare," said Michael Meyer, partner and managing director of BCG.

If the NBTC instead decides to use the spectrum for broadcasting, cross-border interference would become an issue with Thailand's neighbors - Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar - all of which are likely to roll out mobile services in the band.

Interference will reduce the quality of service or interrupt service completely at national borders. Overall, spectrum fragmentation could lead to a collective $3.4 billion loss of incremental GDP and 96,000 fewer jobs in those countries.