NBTC told to revise rules on interconnection fees
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The state and private telecom operators yesterday told the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to improve its regulations on network interconnection charges to ensure fair treatment and facilitate quick resolution of disputes.
The NBTC called them in to share ideas on how it should revise the regulations after five years in force.
Currently the networks of mobile-phone callers must pay a per-minute fee to the networks of the call receivers on a mutually agreed basis. Advanced Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communication (DTAC) and TrueMove have agreed with one another on a rate of Bt1 per minute, and with CAT Telecom on a rate of 50 satang per minute.
A TOT representative said the NBTC should set up a process of arbitrating disputes stemming from the regulations, so that such cases would not always go to court.
An AIS representative said the NBTC should revise the regulations every year, not every five years. In addition, they should be expanded to cover calls between cellular operators and fixed-line telephone operators.
A representative of TrueMove told the watchdog that he wanted to see the three cellular operators cut their mutual Bt1 interconnection charge in half and make all including CAT pay the same charge of 50 satang per minute.
NBTC commissioner Suthi-phon Taveechaiyagarn said it would improve the regulations but declined to specify which points it would revise.
