Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Thailand's telecom watchdog, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), is ramping up efforts to stop cybercriminals. They're teaming up with the Department of Highways to target illegal cable networks found near bridges leading to neighboring countries.

 

Focusing on 17 major bridges, the NBTC aims to protect national security from potential threats. Trairat Viriyasirikul, acting Secretary General of the NBTC, shared that recent operations with local police and the Technology Crime Investigation Division 3 unveiled unauthorized cable setups near the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. These cables were traced directly to Laos.

 

Prompted by discoveries from last year, the NBTC is intensifying efforts this year to ensure telecom operators label their networks for easier identification. Investigations also revealed wireless antennas installed at a hotel with clear views of Laos, only 1.24 kilometers away. Furthermore, they found a dish capable of sending signals 30 kilometers across the border, situated just 936 meters from it.

 

 

Trairat emphasized the potential risks posed by such equipment, close to foreign territories, warning about the facilitation of illegal cyber activities. Those involved will be prosecuted under the Radio Communications Act, facing penalties up to 100,000 baht or five years in prison.

 

Ongoing raids have now extended to the border areas of Nong Khai province, as teams are determined to dismantle these networks and stop cyber threats from gaining a foothold, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-28

 

 

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the NBTC is intensifying efforts this year to ensure telecom operators label their networks for easier identification.

 

Of course, the illegal installers of these cables will not be able to copy the labels.

Internet is much cheaper in Thailand than it is in Laos. So probably, some Thai businesses want to resell Thai landline internet to Laos. That's why they use underwater optic fiber cables over Mekong river. I don't see any problem here as anyway the 5G tower signals can penetrate the bordering countries like Myanmar and Laos as deep as 50 kilometers across the border wirelessly.

So if they found this inside the hotel in Thailand. Why is there only mention of disabling it rather than charging the hotel for fines and possibly criminal affiliations for supplying or allowing those antennas to be set up? 

All those people shuffling between those racks will most likely bust all the networks anyhow 😆