DTAC Trinet (DTN) and Advance Wireless are the only two mobile operators that participated in the auction for the 18000-megahertz spectrum organized on Sunday by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

Nine 5-MHz licenses under the 1800-megahertz spectrum are up for grabs.  Each bidder can bid for a maximum of four licenses or 20 MHz, said Mr Korkit Danchaivichit, deputy secretary-general of the NBTC.

The starting bidding price for each license is set at 12,486 million baht and the bidding price is increased by 25 million baht for each bid.

Each bidder must post a 2.5 billion baht as collateral.

Mr Korkit said the result of the auction will be announced within seven days after which licenses will be issued to the successful bidders.

The auction winners are required to pay for the licenses in three instalments:  50 percent of the license fees for the first instalment, 25 percent of the fees for each of the two instalments.  If payments are not made within 90 days since they receive a letter of notification from NBTC, the 2.5 billion baht guarantee will be confiscated.

Previous auction was aborted because no one submitted bidding documents.

DTAC Trinet is affiliated with Total Access Communications or DTAC whereas  Advance Wireless is an affiliation of Advance Info Services or AIS.