NBTC move to help cell operators
THE OFFICE of the National Broadcasting and Telecommu-nications Commission will propose to the watchdog's board this week that it allow an amendment of conditions for cellular operators with expired concessions so they can seek new customers until their s
They would also be required to pay annual revenue to the state coffers based on the same concession fee rates they used to pay to their state concession owners, NBTC secretary general Takorn Tantasith said.
The 1800MHz cellular concessions of TrueMove and Digital Phone Co ended last September and the NBTC had originally planned to auction their spectrum bands last month, which was to be followed by the auction of Advanced Info Service’s 900MHz in November. AIS’ concession expires in September 2015.
Once the TrueMove and DPC concessions ended last September, the NBTC imposed the so-called remedy measure to allow the two operators to continue serving customers, who failed to move to different networks after the concessions expired, for one more year.
This is on the condition that they are forbidden from seeking new customers and required to hurriedly move remaining customers to other networks. The remedy measure expires on September 15.
However, mid-last month the junta ordered the NBTC to suspend the auction plans of the 1800MHz and 900MHz for one more year, until the regulator completely clarifies its plans for the auctions with the junta.
Takorn said that as it was still uncertain when the NBTC would be able to auction the 1800MHz and 900MHz spectra, the operators with expired concessions should be allowed to seek new customers or provide roaming services in the manner that could generate revenue for the state.
