By Phisanu Phromchanya, Dow Jones Newswires
Execs support law to set up new regulator to supervise telecoms, broadcasting sectors.
Thailand’s two leading mobile operators Wednesday called for the government to push for the quick establishment of a new industry regulator and the speedy licensing process of 3G licenses to ensure fairness and a level-playing field.
Top executives of Advanced Info Service PCL and Total Access Communication PCL jointly urged the government to come up with a clear timeline for 3G licensing and clarity for the future of the industry.
“We want a complete timeline on when this (3G license auction) can happen…we want a concrete plan because we’ve heard a lot of talk but not concrete action,” Total Access Chief Executive Tore Johnsen said at a press conference.
“We need a clear roadmap for the industry and we demand that the government take this matter seriously,” said Wichian Mektrakarn, Advanced Info’s chief executive.
Both executives said they welcome parliamentary approval of the new law to set up a new regulatory body that will supervise both the telecom and broadcasting industries as well as frequency allocation.
The Thai telecom industry is facing massive uncertainty as concessions of the three major private mobile operators are set to expire between 2013 and 2018.
While the auction of 3G licenses is expected to help resolve such problems and create a more level playing field, the process was frozen in September when the Supreme Administrative Court upheld a lower court’s injunction against the auction.
State-owned telecom firm TOT PCL and CAT Telecom had filed separate petitions to the Central Administrative Court to challenge the authority of the National Telecommunications Commission, or NTC, to allocate the 2.1-gigahertz frequency spectrum used for 3G services.
Article via Dow Jones Newswire
Top executives of Advanced Info Service PCL and Total Access Communication PCL jointly urged the government to come up with a clear timeline for 3G licensing and clarity for the future of the industry.
“We want a complete timeline on when this (3G license auction) can happen…we want a concrete plan because we’ve heard a lot of talk but not concrete action,” Total Access Chief Executive Tore Johnsen said at a press conference.
Both executives said they welcome parliamentary approval of the new law to set up a new regulatory body that will supervise both the telecom and broadcasting industries as well as frequency allocation.
The Thai telecom industry is facing massive uncertainty as concessions of the three major private mobile operators are set to expire between 2013 and 2018.
While the auction of 3G licenses is expected to help resolve such problems and create a more level playing field, the process was frozen in September when the Supreme Administrative Court upheld a lower court’s injunction against the auction.
State-owned telecom firm TOT PCL and CAT Telecom had filed separate petitions to the Central Administrative Court to challenge the authority of the National Telecommunications Commission, or NTC, to allocate the 2.1-gigahertz frequency spectrum used for 3G services.
Article via Dow Jones Newswire
