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Published on August 18, 2007

According to the new constitution's Article 47, a joint telecom and broadcasting regulator would be formed to take over the responsibilities of the National Telecom-munications Commission (NTC) and the yet-to-be-established National Broadcasting Commission.

Wichian Mektrakarn, president of Advanced Info Service, and Sunti Medha-vikul, senior executive of Total Access Communication (DTAC), wondered if the NTC could continue developing key regulations and licensing terms and what the industry would do while waiting for the new body.

They were speaking at a seminar on "Telecommuni-cations: driving growth and the country's competitiveness" hosted by the Telecom Association of Thailand.

However, NTC chairman Choochart Phromprasid told the seminar that the regulatory framework was already in place.

A telecom source said the NTC would prefer to lie low until it becomes clear whether it will be replaced by the new watchdog.

Choochart said the NTC would consult with the Council of State on the need for the NTC to go ahead with drawing lots to see which three commissioners would vacate their offices - in case all of them were going to lose their jobs anyway.

According to the frequency allocation law, the NTC has to select three new members on its third anniversary, which falls next month.

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation