The National Telecommunications Commission will hold a trial 3G bandwidth auction on the weekend to test its readiness to call bids by the end of this year.

NTC director Sethaporn Cusripitak said the regulator had made good progress drafting regulations and that after this weekend's internal trial, a second trial would be held in September.

Media representatives would be invited to witness the September trial to ensure transparency.

Mr Sethaporn said the NTC wanted two trials to ensure that any potential problems could be corrected.

The telecoms industry has been frustrated by several delays in bids for bandwidth for third-generation technology, which offers much faster and richer mobile data and multimedia service.

Mr Sethaporn also said the NTC had submitted an announcement on number portability for publication in the Royal Gazette, expected early next month.