Norton Rose has advised Total Access Communication (DTAC), Thailand’s second-largest mobile operator, on loans totalling $1.33 billion that the operator will use to pay for its 3G licence.

The amount includes 30 billion baht (about $1 billion) in unsecured credit facilities from Bangkok Bank, and a 10 billion baht unsecured term loan from a group of Japanese banks, including The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

In October, Thailand completed a long-awaited auction for 3G mobile data spectrum, and one of the licences was granted to DTAC's wholly owned subsidiary, DTAC Network Co Ltd. DTAC plans to use most of the money raised to pay the licence fee.

A Norton Rose team supervised by Bangkok partner Somboon Kitiyansub advised DTAC on the transaction, while Chandler & Thong-ek Law Offices acted for the Bangkok Bank. The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd, Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp were represented by Linklaters.

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