Telecommunication providers are backing liberalisation under the Thai-European Union free-trade agreement, because it would cut down management costs and benefit consumers.
To ensure fair competition, they are also calling on the government to create clear regulations for operating licences and allocating radio frequencies for all enterprises.
"Local telecommunications entrepreneurs are ready for the liberalisation because it would allow technology transfer and help reduce operating costs in the industry as well as in related businesses over the long run. Besides, Thai consumers would enjoy better benefits due to tighter competition," Akkarapon Leelajindamai, assistant secretary to the commerce minister and chairman of the Thai-EU FTA hearings, said.
The EU has also called on Thailand to be fair with European investors wanting to do business here.
After meeting with telecommunications providers, EU officials said they agreed that liberalising the business would be beneficial to all. However, the government should set clear regulations.
For instance, the law should be clear for enterprises supporting large projects, a standard should be set up for service providers and employees, the Foreign Business Act be made clearer and a law be enforced to prevent the setting up of nominees for foreigners doing business here.
In addition, logistics enterprises believe that liberalising the sector would help Thailand become a regional logistics hub as well as promote employment in the industry.
However, enterprises are concerned about the level of competitiveness between small- and medium-sized enterprises as well as large businesses. Therefore, the government should provide measures to help lower the costs of enterprises by reducing tariffs and airport fees, as well as give them technological support.
In addition, local enterprises in the restaurant and spa industry are also supporting the FTA and calling on the government to help remove obstacles for Thai workers' access to the EU market.