The future of the new 3G wireless broadband project between CAT Telecom and True Corporation is cloudy as the acting National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission remains reluctant to allow the state telecom enterprise to import equipment.

True is worried that further delays will lead to increasing workload pressure and affect its ability to meet the service agreement with its concession owner CAT, said True vice-chairman Athueck Asvanont.

The NBTC, meanwhile, reiterated that it is willing to consider the issue. But as it is only an acting telecom regulator, it is not clear whether all five members will unanimously approve CAT's request to build a 3G wireless network.

The equipment is needed for an HSPA network based on the 850-Megahertz frequency, which would then be leased to Real Move, a unit of True Corp.

TOT, meanwhile, wants to build a 3G network based on HSPA+ technology on the 1900-MHz frequency, with commercial service to start in the third quarter of the year.

Col Natee Sukolrat, an acting NBTC member, said members generally felt that allowing the imports and the start of 3G network installations would benefit the public.

"Further delay would do more harm than good to the Thai telecom industry," he said yesterday.

Col Natee said he personally favoured approving CAT's request, as the NTC and the NBTC have authority to regulate telecom equipment based on the 1995 Radio Communications Act, not under the 2000 Frequency Allocation Act.

"But I'm not sure that the other members will favour consideration of the imports," he added.

Some former National Telecommunications Commission members are wary of taking any action pending a court ruling on the scope of their authority as members of the acting NBTC. One member, Sudharm Yoonaidharm, said reviews of import licences for radio telecommunications equipment should be put on hold pending court clarification of the body's authority.

Last September, the Central Administrative Court ordered the NTC to halt the auction of 3G licences on the 2100 MHz band following a challenge filed by CAT and later by TOT.

The court said the NTC lacked the right to auction licences under the 2000 Frequency Allocation Act due to the lack of a National Broadcasting Commission. The court has yet to rule on the case.

Following that, petitions to import equipment dropped sharply, particularly those submitted by CAT Telecom and TOT.

Col Natee said he was unhappy with recent news reports saying that the NBTC was the main obstacle to progress on 3G.

Prasert Apipunya, the vice-secretary of the NBTC, said the authority had only received complete documentation from CAT on Tuesday for its equipment import requests.

CAT president Jirayuth Roongsrithong said the enterprise had submitted the import request three weeks ago. Should there be any more requests, CAT was willing to comply with the NBTC.

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We have a dedicated thread for these updates now. Perhaps a mod will move it.