Laos, Thailand to limit cellular signals near border
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Laos and Thailand have reached an agreement to limit cellphone signals within one kilometre of their border as part of efforts to protect the commercial interests of telecommunications businesses in the respective countries.
Laotian Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications’ Planning and Cooperation Department Director-General Snith Xaphakdy said yesterday that Laos and Thailand had reached the agreement, hoping that the two nations will put the policy into practice.
He made the comments following complaints from Laotian cellphone users, who are losing money due to Thai cellphone signal intrusion into Laos.
A number of Laotian cellphone users told the Vientiane Times that their mobile phones sometimes automatically switch to Thai mobile operators when they visit towns along border areas, forcing them to pay international roaming rates despite receiving domestic calls.
Meanwhile, Thai tourists who travel to a number of tourist sites in Laos which are located away from the border can still use their cell phones despite the fact they do not have international roaming switched on.
Officials from Laotian telecom companies welcomed the agreement between the Laotian and Thai authorities, adding that limiting the cellphone signal intrusions not only helps to protect the security of the nation but also the interests of the telecom firms.
One telecom official said that it was not reasonable for Laotians to allow Thai mobile-phone operators to provide services in the country as they do not pay the taxes to Laotian authorities, and Thai tourists who visit Laos should use Laotian SIM cards or international roaming systems.
He said that allowing foreign operators to provide services in Laos causes a major threat to Laotian security as cell-phone signals could use be used to trigger an explosive device, and it would be difficult for Laos to investigate if the cell phone number was not registered in Laos.
He said that despite the fact that Laos and Thailand have reached agreement on the limitation of cell phone signal intrusion, they would encounter difficulties enforcing the agreement.
Over the past months, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has issued a number of notices to urge Internet service providers to stop using Thai Internet signals, as the move contravenes the Internet management regulations in Laos. Some businesspeople, in particular those who live along the border area, purchase Thai Internet signals so as they can deliver cheaper Internet services to their customers. At present the price of Internet services provided by Lao telecom firms is much more expensive compared to the service provided by Thai companies.
