Two of the largest mobile operators in Thailand, AIS and Dtac, last week announced their partnership to share mobile towers to improve 3G coverage across the country on the 2.1GHz spectrum. This agreement is signed between AIS's 2.1-gigahertz subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) and DTAC's 2.1GHz subsidiary DTAC TriNet.
The AIS-dtac partnership will initially see both operators sharing 300 towers and increasing this number to 2,000 telecom towers within this year to effectively support the growing mobile phone penetration and internet usage.
According to Dtac, the infrastructure sharing helps reduce redundant investment in installation, shorten lead times in expanding coverage area and improving network quality, and reduce environmental problems caused by redundant telecom towers built in the same area. The latest move is in line with the Digital Economy strategy and the regulations of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
Early this month, Dtac has signed similar a partnership with state owned mobile operator, CAT to set up two joint ventures to share network assets via separate tower and fibre units. Late last year, Dtac signed a deal with another operator, True Corporation to rent between 100 and 115 towers to expand its 3G-2.1GHz wireless broadband service.
Weerawat Kiattipongthaworn, Senior Executive Vice President – Operations, AIS
says that the sharing of telecom towers to enhance our nationwide service reflects our commitment in expanding our coverage and supporting the growing demand and the widely distributed population across Thailand.
Prathet Tankuranun, Chief Technology Officer, Dtac
Our partnership, between Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) and dtac TriNet, focuses on improving service quality for our 3G 2100 MHz customers as well as meeting demands of AIS and dtac TriNet customers nationwide. We are launching a pilot, and by the end of this year we expect AIS and dtac TriNet to operate 2,000 shared telecom towers.
