Talks a must on post-concession care
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CAT Telecom, True Move and Digital Phone have to discuss among themselves who will take care of the 17 million users of TrueMove and DPC after their concessions expire on September 15.
“If they cannot conclude the deal, the NBTC will step in to end the dispute “ Kaewsun Atibodhi, a law lecture and head of the remedy measure for the protection of 1800MHz users of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, said yesterday.
The talks are required by the NBTC’s draft rules for protecting the 17 million customers.
CAT, True and DPC will have 60 days to make a decision on the right to serve the 17 million users starting on September 16. They will have to agree on the network leasing fee and outsourcing process.
The operators assigned to serve all users have to pay the licence fee and frequency fee, plus the universal services obligation fee, but they can ask the NBTC for a discount on the mobile number portability fee and other expenses.
According to the draft, the NBTC will give only one year to the assigned operators during the remedy period and the NBTC will rush the auction for the 1800MHz frequency to the third quarter of next year.
However, many have criticised the draft over legal questions, such as if the NBTC has any right to award a one-year period.
Some law lecturers said there is no legal basis for the NBTC to impose the solutions in the draft. The NBTC may face a legal challenge from parties including CAT Telecom.
CAT telecom is asking the Cabinet to extend its right to hold onto the 1800MHz spectrum after the concessions are completed this September and to refuse to return the 1800MHz spectrum to the NBTC.
“We do our best on the legal aspects, and are ready to defend ourselves in court if anyone wants to challenge us. If we don’t do anything, all 17 million users may face the risk of seeing their services get turned off on the day the concessions end,” Kaewsan said.
The NBTC is planning to hold a public hearing on July 25 for the draft remedy measure to protect 1800Mhz users.
