NBTC rejects DTAC’s proposal of providing LTE services in the 1800 MHz band

Thailand’s telecom regulator National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has rejected mobile operator Dtac’s proposal to provide LTE services by using spectrum in the 1800 MHz band. NBTC contended that Dtac would have to seek permission from the state-owned telecom company CAT to access 50 MHz of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band under the 2G concession agreement. Dtac uses only 25 MHz of the spectrum for the mobile services it offers. Consequently, Dtac has proposed two options – offering LTE services in the unused spectrum of the 1800 MHz band, or returning this spectrum to NBTC for the LTE auction.