Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand Tips, App Reviews and News for the iPhone and iPad by Richard Barrow

3G to Cover 76 Provinces in 2011

The iPhone 3G has been in Thailand for a year already but we still don't have a comprehensive 3G coverage. It is true there is some coverage in places like the big shopping malls in Bangkok and also over at Suvarnabhumi Airport. However, for the majority of the time, my iPhone 3GS has to make do with Edge. Unbelievably, we are the last country in this region to move forward with 3G. Even Laos and Vietnam have 3G networks. I think by the time we get 3G other countries would have already moved onto the next big thing leaving us behind again.

Now today comes this news released by the National News Bureau (NNT) that the "3G service [is] to be completely launched nationwide early next year".  Of course, in Thai time that probably means some time at the end of next year, but at least it is moving forward.

The CAT Telecom state enterprise has decided not to wait for a 3G auction to be announced by the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) but to expedite its plan to provide high-speed 3G telephone network nationwide which is likely to be completed at the beginning of next year.

Mr Jirayut Rungsrithong, CEO of CAT, disclosed that the CAT Telecom has been permitted by the Cabinet to take over Hutch CDMA network system worth 7.5 billion THB. This is aimed to expand its 3G service coverage and connect Hutch CDMA with that of CAT. CAT’s 3G network service has already covered 51 provinces of Thailand whereas Hutch CDMA network covers 25 central provinces.

CAT has also planned to integrate CAT CDMA with that of Hutch, and to upgrade the speed for both systems via 3G network service in 25 other provinces this July onwards, making the 3G service signaling to cover all the 76 provinces. However, 3G CDMA will be ready for full service nationwide by the beginning of 2011.

The process of 3G auction under the responsibility of the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) has been rescheduled many times due to some complications in details of the bidding conditions and its prices.