NBTC prepares for e-bidding for govt internet concessions

 

 

BANGKOK, 13th August 2018, (NNT) - The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is organizing an auction for concessions in the government's Net Pracharat program. 

NBTC Secretary-General Takorn Tantasith has revealed that the commission will use electronic bidding to select companies for the eight concessions in Zone C of the Net Pracharat program. The concessions are worth a combined 19.6 billion baht. 

He said that eligible bidders must either hold a third-tier networking telecommunications license or a first-tier license for the operators who do not have their own network. The bidders must also provide evidence that they have earnt a profit from their telecommunications business over the past year, as a way of ensuring the viability of their operations. Bidders that have operated in the sector for over three years must provide income statements indicating they have earnt an average revenue of over 10 percent of the value of their desired concession. 

Those awarded the concessions will be tasked with fulfilling a five-year maintenance contract. They are not permitted to charge more than 349 baht per month for home internet services. Secretary-General Takorn said today that currently, there are 60 eligible bidders registered for the auction. 

The NBTC will upload the bidding documents to the website of the Comptroller General’s Department within the week. The auction will kick off on August 20th and will conclude on September 14th. The list of winners will be announced from October 8th - 12th. 

It is expected that the companies awarded with the concessions will ink the deal at the beginning of November. All Wi-Fi services in the participating villages should be operational by November 2019. 

Net Pracharat aims to provide free, high-speed internet services to remote areas of the Kingdom, as part of the administration’s Thailand 4.0 agenda that underlines the use of digital technology to drive economic and social development. Zone C refers to remote areas of the Kingdom.

 

-- nnt 2018-08-13

 

From past "auctions" they will pay too much make too little profit so go bust or ask for government "help"....service sketchy, long roll out etc etc.

"The concessions are worth a combined Thb 19 million"

The concessions are worth what someone is willing to pay!....with the conditions set for the next 5 years, it would be crazy to try and win....but an easy road to bankruptcy!

Nice hair...

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Net Pracharat aims to provide free, high-speed internet services to remote areas of the Kingdom, as part of the administration’s Thailand 4.0 agenda that underlines the use of digital technology to drive economic and social development. Zone C refers to remote areas of the Kingdom.

Here's the translation:

We aim to provide free high speed censored internet services for the poor people in Thailand, so they also can use FB and watch illegal movies and p.rn on their 1k THB tablets at home. 

 

"to drive economic and social development."  555

This is just a bad idea. Government in a democratic(?) country setting up a system to spy on its citizens just seems wrong. That and the corruption opportunities seem unlimited in a very powerful industry.