The national telecom regu-lator recently agreed to grant international Internet gate-

way (IIG) operating licences to Advanced Datanetworks Communication (ADC) and True Corp Plc. Sudharma Yoonaidharma, a commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commis-sion (NTC), said that both applied for the type-2 licence to operate the IIG service.

The type-2 licence is for providing the service to a limited group and competition among providers does not significantly affect the industry as a whole.

ADC, which provides broadband multimedia content, is a joint venture of Advanced Info Service and TOT Plc, while True is a telecom operator.

Both applicants plan to lease the networks of foreign carriers to provide international Internet bandwidth via CAT's domestic link to the Internet service providers (ISPs).

The service will provide a choice of international bandwidth sources to the ISPs,

which currently have to purchase such bandwidth from CAT alone.

There are around 17 ISPs in Thailand that operate under the existing CAT concession

and 24 ISPs under the NTC licence.

In a related matter, the NTC is waiting for the Council of State to make a ruling as to whether it can grant 3G broadband cellular business licences in the absence of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The frequency-allocation law requires both regulatory bodies to jointly manage and allocate the spectrums.

However, the Central Administrative Court ruled last November that the process of selecting 14 candidates for seats on the NBC was unconstitutional.

The verdict prompted a fresh selection process, which could take years before completion.

The NTC is also waiting for the Council of State to deliver a ruling on whether its regulations can be applied to both its own licensees and the private telecom concessionaires, or only to its licensees.

While waiting for the ruling, the NTC has already stated in several draft regulations that

the regulations would be applied to both the licensees and the private telecom concessionaires.

The NTC has also meted out a series of draft regulations in the past few months to speed up the reform process.

Most recently, the NTC launched draft regulations aimed at protecting the benefits of consumers, such as the standard telecom service contract and the rules governing the

telecom operators' changes to tariff rates.

The NTC has also speeded up the process of drafting guidelines for implementing number portability, which allows telecom subscribers to switch to different networks and keep their existing phone numbers.

The NTC recently said it was speeding up the completion of draft guidelines for awarding 3G broadband cellular service licences ahead of the Council of State ruling.

Telecom Reporters

The Nation