Thai telcos are up in arms about the power and reach that the new regulator will have when it comes into being.
Local executives were speaking at a public consultation exercise on the Frequency Allocation Act in Bangkok, which would legislate for the…
Thai telcos are up in arms about the power and reach that the new regulator will have when it comes into being.
Local executives were speaking at a public consultation exercise on the Frequency Allocation Act in Bangkok, which would legislate for the establishment of a powerful 15-member National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
The local players thought that the new body would have too much muscle and at the same time most of its members would not understand the industry.
The NBTC will replace the current National Telecommunications Commission, which has been plagued by questions about the scope of its authority in its five-year existence.
AIS’s CEO, Wichian Mektrakarn said the bill was drawn up by people who were biased against the industry and the prohibition in his view was inappropriate.
He said the NBTC would have only a handful of people with any industry knowledge, which would impede the growth of telecoms and broadcasting. He also said that 15 members were too many and decision-making would be bogged down as a result.
Thana Thienachariya, chief corporate affairs officer for DTAC’s, said the structure of the NBTC had a typical Thai pattern, “with a strong committee, but weak secretariat”.
