Thailand to launch 5G services by 2020

BANGKOK, October 18 (TNA) - The Thai government has set a target on launching more advanced 5G digital services widely, expected through the 3500 megahertz (MHz) and the 28 gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, by 2020. Thailand's Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has, thus, sought its cooperation with the Japan-based Fifth Generation Mobile Communication Promotion Forum (5GMF) on the exchange of technical approaches used for supporting the utilization of the 5G technology. An acting NBTC commissioner, Prasert Silpipat, signed a letter of intent (LOI) with a visiting 5GMF representative in Bangkok on Thursday. Prasert told journalists after the LOI signing that the agreed contract also covers bilateral cooperation between the Japanese and the Thai sides on relevant research and development (R&D) projects and on the exchange of experiences in field tests of the 5G technology in Thailand to look into both strengths and threats prior to the commercial launch of the more advanced digital technology in the Thai Kingdom by the first quarter of 2020. Meanwhile, NBTC Deputy Secretary-General Korkij Danchaivichit said that the 5G technology will be first introduced in Thailand as a test run by the first quarter of 2019 when the 3500 MHz and the 28 GHz frequencies, which are expected to be utilized for the 5G services in Thailand, will be re-allocated. The NBTC deputy chief revealed that during the test run, set to be held on an about 400-square kilometer-space in the compound of the NBTC Headquarters in Bangkok's Phaholyothin area, all strengths and threats of the 3500 MHz and the 28 GHz frequencies will be collected for further analytical processes and solutions to the threats. (TNA)