Telecom Sector Awaits Anxiously Next Thai Govt's ICT Policies

[webfact]

Telecom sector awaits anxiously next Govt's ICT policies

By The Nation

The Democrat and Pheu Thai parties have both made identical promises to ensure the quick and successful advent of the new national broadcasting and telecom watchdog, knowing that it is a key part in their ICT policy campaigns of promoting equal broadband service accessibility and fair competition in the telecom sector.

Telecom industrialists hope the parties can keep their promise, if one of them forms the government. They have been waiting for 3G spectrum licences for years to develop nationwide wireless broadband service and to enable them to compete on the same fair licensing system. Currently they operate under TOT and CAT Telecom concessions on different terms and conditions.

The process to grant the 3G licences has seen a lot of support and opposition as well as a series of legal challenges from involved parties.

But the telecom industrialists doubt if during this transit period to the NBTC era, both parties could meet the promise to bring about genuine fair treatment under the new government's policy for the industry, which has been known for its vested interests and politically linked business.

As part of the Supreme Administrative Court's ruling last September on the Thaksin asset seizure case, the former premier was said to have abused his power to benefit the Shin Corp empire founded by his family.

The Abhisit Vejjajiva government was also seen to be favouring True Corp, a charge the government fiercely denies.

One telecom industrialist said he wants to see the new government correct unclear rules and support the private sector to continue to move the industry forward, with no favouritism toward any telecom operator.

The Senate is expected to finish selecting 11 commissioners of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) this year. If it fails to nominate the full commissioner quorum within a certain period, the government can step in to appoint candidates to fill the NBTC quorum.

The Pheu Thai Party is of the view that once the 3G licences are available, the private concession holders will no more talk about the need to convert their existing concessions into a fairer licensing system. They will rush to bid for the licences and let their concession terms end naturally.

While waiting for the 3G licences, both parties have vowed to widen broadband access service via TOT and CAT Telecom, who have a plan to roll out the 3G networks nationwide.

An ICT industrialist said that instead of just trumpeting the campaigns of giving away free services to free telecom devices, both parties should come up with short- and long-term plans to drive the ICT industry forward.

-- The Nation 2011-06-20

[redsquare]

The Abhisit Vejjajiva government was also seen to be favouring True Corp, a charge the government fiercely denies.

Just because CP have a director in the Cabinet and Abhisit's Dad is also a director of CP doesn't mean there is any favouritism.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Strange there is no mention of the DTAC-TRUE row...

[nikster]

The Abhisit Vejjajiva government was also seen to be favouring True Corp, a charge the government fiercely denies.

Just because CP have a director in the Cabinet and Abhisit's Dad is also a director of CP doesn't mean there is any favouritism.

Yeah it was surprising how True could secure so many favorable deals, and somehow is the only carrier with 3G... same thing, different players, had Thaksin stayed in power we'd now see AIS 3G - somehow, somewhere it would have worked out, I am sure.

That said no matter what the government the main blockers of 3G or any changes to the telecoms sector are the two main beneficiaries of the current arrangement, TOT, and CAT. It seemed like these supposedly government owned entities have a life all of their own and are not actually controlled by anyone. The Prime Minister and the government certainly can't tell them what to do. And if that's the case, who can?

[Disinto]

The Abhisit Vejjajiva government was also seen to be favouring True Corp, a charge the government fiercely denies.

Just because CP have a director in the Cabinet and Abhisit's Dad is also a director of CP doesn't mean there is any favouritism.

Yeah it was surprising how True could secure so many favorable deals, and somehow is the only carrier with 3G... same thing, different players, had Thaksin stayed in power we'd now see AIS 3G - somehow, somewhere it would have worked out, I am sure.

That said no matter what the government the main blockers of 3G or any changes to the telecoms sector are the two main beneficiaries of the current arrangement, TOT, and CAT. It seemed like these supposedly government owned entities have a life all of their own and are not actually controlled by anyone. The Prime Minister and the government certainly can't tell them what to do. And if that's the case, who can?

True is not the only carrier having 3G. TOT has successfully deployed a 3G network in the 2100 MHz band and is currently in the process of expanding it after a contested tender.

BTW, True is currently operating its 3G network on a "commercial trial" basis under a CAT concession.

Total, the spectrum is a whole mess here. It doesn't make sense to go for 3G 850 MHz nationwide where no cheap handsets are available in this frequency band. As usual, the Thai people will be the biggest losers

Edited June 20, 2011 by Disinto

[steveyinasia]

They actually have a ICT policy, I though the campaigning was more about a popularity contest