08 April 2025
Thailand’s Association of Digital Television Broadcasting (ADTEB) reportedly urged the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to either scrap its plan to auction 3500MHz spectrum to telcos or postpone it until it comes up with a feasible migration plan for digital TV broadcasters.
ADTEB issued its comments at a NBTC public hearing to discuss future plans for seven spectrum bands: 850MHz, 1500MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, 3500MHz and 26GHz.
The 3500MHz band is currently used by digital TV and satellite broadcasters. The NBTC initially planned to auction the band in 2027 but is considering holding it earlier.
According to the local media, ADTEB president Suphap Kleekajai complained that the NBTC is moving too fast on the 3500MHz band and hasn’t offered any practical solutions for digital TV broadcasters – who are already struggling to stay in business – to migrate to other bands.
The NBTC auctioned the band to 24 digital TV channels in 2013, but of those, only 15 are still broadcasting, with the other nine shutting down due to financial difficulties. With video streaming growing in popularity, only around 10% of Thai households watch digital TV channels via set-top boxes.
ADTEB called on the NBTC to drop plans to auction the band to telcos, who want to use the band for 5G and potentially 6G services. AIS and True Corp have already expressed interest in acquiring 3500-MHz spectrum for their 5G networks.
Paiboon Damrongchaitham, chairman of media conglomerate GMM Grammy, said that ADTEB members need to use the band until at least 2029, which is when existing digital TV licences expire. He also said ADTEB would file a complaint against NBTC with the Administrative Court over any negative effects its decision on the 3500MHz band would have on its members.
