No new projects likely at NTC for now
The national telecommunications regulator might suspend developing new policies, pending directions from the Administrative Reform Council, which was set up after the coup on Tuesday.
Choochart Promphrasid, chairman of the National Telecommunication Commission, said the NTC had chewed over the issue after the coup leaders nullified the Constitution. Article 40 of the Constitution mandated the establishment of an independent telecom regulatory body to promote equal access to telecom services for the public, fair market competition, and effective frequency allocation and utilisation. Choochart said that the absence of a constitution made it unclear if the NTC had lost its independent regulatory role as well as further policy development and direction. "But we'll continue granting licences and implementing the interconnection charge regime," he said. The NTC met with the reform council yesterday, which told the licensing body to go on working as usual, Choochart said. The NTC has already awarded Internet licences and International Internet gateway licences. Interconnection charge rules require all telecom operators to share voice and data revenues between the two networks involved in the calls. Telecom operators are discussing with each other the interconnection rates they will charge. The NTC chairman believes the commission will not be dissolved after the Constitution's termination because the body was established under the frequency allocation law, BE 2543. The NTC will discuss today how to be prepared for any change in its role stemming from the coup, said Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn, its secretary-general. A source at the NTC said that the licensing body was concerned about any radical changes to its role and if a new Constitution would call for the establishment of an independent regulatory body. Concerning the licensing of 3G broadband cellular spectrums, Choochart said that he was waiting for a working committee to finish drafting licensing rules and would consider again if it could grant such new licences. Telecom firms are waiting for licences to operate 3G spectrums to enable them to offer fast data-transmission services that would help them earn more revenue.
Usanee Mongkolporn The Nation
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