Spectrum plan to be submitted in next two months
Play
THE national spectrum utilisation strategy, a guideline for the country's spectrum management, will be submitted to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in the next couple of months, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) minister has said.
Pornchai Rujiprapa said the strategy would focus on the reform of the entire telecom sector, including the sharing of backbone telecom infrastructure and spectra in order to maximise the existing resources.
The state telecom agencies have attempted to keep up their spectra after the concessions expire, while the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is keen to reallocate their spectra by means of auction.
Pornchai said the new spectrum management strategy would be clearer before the NBTC starts auctioning new spectrum licences of 1800MHz in November and 900MHz in December this year. He confirmed that the new strategy would not cause the delay of the NBTC's 1800MHz auction schedule but he is not sure if it would cause a delay of the 900MHz auction.
The ministry will invite the NBTC to join the meeting with the national broadband committee on June 22 to brainstorm the spectrum use strategy development.
Takorn Tantasith, secretary general of the NBTC, said the watchdog would convene on July 14 to tackle the auction plan.
Pornchai said the ICT ministry would not resort to the TOT labour union’s suggestion to ask the premier to use Article 44 of the interim charter to permit TOT to keep its spectra after the concession expires. He insisted that the TOT would have to hand over the spectra for reallocation.
In a separate matter, the Cabinet this week approved the Digital Economy Bill, which is expected to be forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly next week. The bill governs the establishment of the National Digital Economy Committee and the Digital Economy Fund.
