TOT 3G launches today

TOT has yet to finalise the wholesale and discount prices of the 3G network in greater Bangkok that it will lease to the five firms it has selected to provide the service on a mobile virtual network basis (MVNO).

The TOT board yesterday concluded only that Samart I-Mobile (SIM) and Loxley would debut the service today as MVNOs, while TOT itself would also launch the service on its own.

An MVNO is a company that does not have its own network and needs to lease a network or airtime from another party.

TOT has selected SIM, Loxley, 365 Communication, IEC and M Consultant to launch 3G as MVNOs.

SIM has aimed high in the 3G-2.1GHz wireless broadband business by targeting about 200,000 customers within one year.

Watchai Vilailuck, president of Samart Corp - the parent of SIM - said SIM had already spent Bt50 million on the marketing campaign for its I-Mobile 3G X service, which targets 20,000 customers within the first month, rising to 200,000 within a year.

A Samart source said SIM would offer four monthly airtime packages to woo 3G users - Bt199, Bt299, Bt599 and Bt799. While the source declined to provide full details, he said those using the Bt199 package could make 199 minutes of calls and 199 megabytes of video calls. Voice calls in excess of this number will cost 50 satang per minute and video calls 20 satang per MB.

Watchai said the service targeted a monthly average revenue per user of Bt200. He added that next year the 3G service would account for 10 per cent of SIM's revenue.

SIM will focus on offering video calls, video chat and music download applications to woo prospect 3G customers.

On Tuesday, Loxley said that it is partnering UK-based Mobile Partners Group (MPG) to provide the 3G service on TOT's network. Loxley needed MPG's MVNO experience to back up its service offering.

MPG was established in 2006 with the purpose of simplifying mobile-service set-ups with selected partners. It also acts as an enabler for companies or brand names that want to go into the mobile business as either an MVNO or an SP (service provider).

Loxley, which will run the service under the i-KooL 3G brand, is investing Bt40 million on related systems and aims to lure about 30,000 customers and break even within 18 months.

The 3G service will enhance its existing IT solutions on fleet management, close-circuit TV system management as well as electricity- and water-metre management - all offered to state and private enterprises.

TOT plans to spend about Bt3 billion on expanding its existing 3G network to better serve prospective customers. The network currently has the capacity to serve 500,000 subscribers.