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Overnight uproar: Thai court lays the smack down on 3G
Thai smart phone users are outraged as the introduction of a fully operational 3G network in Thailand is delayed yet again due to the postponement of a license auction
The iPhone 4 will be launched in Thailand on September 24. Fully functioning 3G network not included.
Smart phone owners in Thailand were outraged last night when word broke that the Central Administrative Court was putting a halt to a telecommunications auction for 3G licenses that was due to start on Monday.
Many headed straight to Twitter to share their anger, with #TOTSuck and #CATSuck among several of the more popular hashtags trending last night, references to the two state-owned companies that stand to lose the most from the auction.
According to the Bangkok Post, the licence auction was scheduled to take place near Hua Hin from September 20-27, with two 3G licenses on the block at a starting price of 12.8 billion baht each.
But the court ruled in favor of CAT Telecom's call for an injunction to suspend the National Telecommunications Commission’s auction on the grounds that the NTC has no authority to hold the auction. The Nation reports that the NTC will today appeal against the court's decision so that Monday’s bidding can go ahead as planned.
Meanwhile, other parts of the world are preparing for the arrival of their 4G networks, making the situation all the more embarrassing. As the Wall Street Journal points out today, Thailand is one of the last countries in Southeast Asia to fully deploy advanced wireless technology.
