Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission plans to auction approximately 4,000 licenses for digital radio in 2015, according to The Nation.
Broadcasting committee Chairman Natee Sukonrat explained the licenses would likely be divided into national and regional categories, with about 20 national licenses expected to be sold. He also said these licenses would probably be sold for 100,000 Thai Bahts (about US$3,050).
He said the auction would also be divided into phases, and it would likely include 10 licenses to provide network services for the digital radio operators.
As part of the rollout of digital radio, to begin a digital radio trial, the committee says it will sign a memorandum of understanding with MCOT, Thailand’s Public Relations Department and the Royal Thai Army.
Digital radio will be broadcast on reclaimed VHF bands from former analog television stations, and current analog AM/FM frequencies will be used for public and community radio. There are now 525 of these analog station throughout Thailand, said the report.
