BANGKOK -- Advanced Info Service, Thailand's largest mobile operator, has emerged the clear winner in the country's auctions for fifth-generation network spectrum, which were held on Feb. 16. Investors welcomed AIS's winning bids and on the next day sent the company's shares up almost 5% from their closing price on Feb. 14.
A total of 49 licenses on three wavelengths -- 700 MHz, 2,600 MHz and 26 GHz -- were sold in the much-awaited auction. Singapore Telecommunications-backed AIS snapped up 23 licenses for 42.1 billion baht ($1.35 billion). With the auction, the Thai telecoms industry as a whole has pledged 100 billion baht to the government.
