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Published on July 13, 2007

But National Telecommu-nications Commission (NTC) secretary-generalSuranan Wongvithayakamjorn yesterday declined to reveal details, other than that the regulations were expected to take effect this year.

The scheme will allow telecom users to switch networks while keeping their old numbers, which would be more convenient for most consumers than having to get a new number.

Earlier, the NTC said it intended to implement number portability for cellular services first and telephone services later.

The NTC should have introduced the regulations last year, in accordance with its original schedule, but Suranan said the NTC needed time to conduct a thorough study of their impact.

The regulator will also soon draft the 2008-10 telecom-industry master plan under the theme of broadcasting and telecom convergence.

"The commissioners have already endorsed in principle the framework of the plan, which will focus on how convergent technology can contribute to society," he said.

The NTC has achieved almost all of the objectives set out in its first master plan, including key licensing regulations and the issuance of licences, except number portability.

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation