NTC to cut licence fees
The national telecom regulator plans to reduce licence fees to ease the burden of licensees, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) chairman Choochart Promphrasid said yesterday, adding that the new rates are expected to be announced this year.
He said the move would prevent licensees from passing the cost to consumers, besides easing their financial burdens.On Monday, CAT Telecom said it would ask the licensing body to axe the licence fee. The state agency paid about Bt700 million in licence costs last year. Licence costs range from Bt20,000 to a maximum 5 per cent of the licensee's annual total revenue. Licensees also pay per number. In its 2007 budget plan, the NTC forecast revenues of Bt2.841 billion versus expenses of Bt4.206 billion. Bt980 million will be administrative costs. The remainder will be for implementing NTC projects, including Bt1 billion for determining a fair competition strategy. - The Nation
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