An NTC commissioner, Prasit Prapinmongkolkarn, said the panel would include representatives of national security agencies and consumer organisations. The move aims to prepare the regulator to deal with issues of privacy protection.

For instance, the US has its Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, which makes it possible for law enforcement agencies to keep surveillance of citizens via telecom networks.

Meanwhile, the NTC's board granted a licence to True Corp Plc's Sky Office yesterday to operate an international Internet gateway. However, the licence was conditional upon Sky Office initially leasing the international gateway from CAT Telecom Plc or TOT Plc. The licence is valid for five years.

NTC secretary-general Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn said the board had also approved in principle the granting of a licence to Advanced International Network, a subsidiary of Advanced Info Service, to operate an overseas-call gateway. However, like Sky Office, it has to initially lease the international gateway from either of the two state telecom agencies. The NTC's board will consider a request from AIS and True Move for an additional two million mobile-phone numbers each next week, Suranan said.

The board yesterday granted a licence to I-True Phone Internet to operate a calling service using Voice over Internet Protocol technology.

It also endorsed a plan to draft regulations governing the use of vehicles equipped with radar systems. The radar, which operates in the 76GHz to 77GHz spectrum, is part of the car's safety system.

Suranan also said the NTC would join with Florida University and the European Union to provide training to its staff on overall aspects of interconnection charging regulations. The NTC plans to set up an institute to create international standard practices for these charges and to set a formula for fixing the rates.

Usane Mongkolporn

The Nation