AIS controlled 50.9 per cent of the market in the fourth quarter last year, while Total Access Communication (DTAC) held 28.3 per cent and True 20.8 per cent. For the first quarter of this year, AIS’s market share slipped slightly to 50.5 per cent, followed by DTAC at 27.5 per cent and True at 22 per cent.

Somchai Lertsutiwong, chief executive officer of AIS, said yesterday that 1 percentage point of market share was worth about Bt1 billion.

The company had forecast its market share slipping to 49 per cent this year after failing to win a licence in the original 900MHz auction last December.

The band on the 900MHz spectrum will allow AIS to make more revenue and lower investment for network coverage.

It expects to achieve 80-per-cent coverage for its fourth-generation network this year, versus 50 per cent previously targeted.

AIS is also keen to form a joint venture with TOT to operate telecom towers and further expand its fixed-line broadband service as part of the plan to boost revenue.

In the initial phase, AIS might lease telecom towers from TOT to provide the service and will move to collaborate on a joint venture soon.

The ownership of about 13,000 telecom towers is being disputed by AIS and TOT.

“We have to seek more revenue sources and generate more revenue after spending profusely on the network,” Somchai said.

AIS subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network, the only bidder, pledged Bt75.65 billion for the 900MHz licence in the replay auction last week.

It is expected to pay the Bt8.04-billion first instalment of the upfront fee for its new licence by June 30, and Bt4.02 billion for the second- and third-year instalments and Bt67.61 billion for the fourth year.

AIS is also interested in vying for other frequencies in the future.

AIS will continue its 2G service for a few more years.

Now AIS has 250,000 2G users on its network while AWN has about five million users who still have 2G phones and roam on the 900MHz network.