Thailand’s NBTC shelves the planned 2G networks shutdown

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has shelved plans to decommission the country’s 2G networks, saying that the three major mobile operators are willing to provide the service to customers, The Bangkok Post writes.

Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the NBTC, was quoted as saying: ‘Operators have agreed to continue providing 2G service for remaining users, even though they earlier urged the NBTC to enact the resolution.’ As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, in January 2019 the NBTC approved a decision to shut down the nation’s existing 2G networks by 31 October 2019, to give mobile operators more efficient network capacity and pave the way for 5G wireless broadband services by 2020. Advanced Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communication’s (DTAC) TriNet and True Move all submitted letters to the telecom regulator asking for the termination of the 2G mobile service in late 2018.