Thailand’s leading mobile phone operator, Advanced Info Service PCL (ADVANC), said Tuesday it would join the state-own TOT to launch 3G service in certain parts of the country on February 1.

Lured by the blooming mobile internet market, the company said it has provided more than 10,000 applications for users of its network download, including a SIM card that enable mobile handsets with MSN text messaging feature.

“Contents downloading has shifted trend to mobile broadband and wireless from the fixed line internet,” said AIS CEO Vichien Mektrakarn.

With the country’s uncertain 3G license, he said AIS chooses to cooperate with TOT on 3G 1900 MHz broadband technology and would roll out its 3G SIM card sale on February 1.

AIS hope to deliver more than 20 thousand SIM in its first phase sale and would rake up to maximum 500 thousand SIM, as per the contract, in total sale.