Cell phone operators ordered to boost frequencies during protests

BANGKOK, January 4 (TNA) - As anti-government protesters plan to “shut down” Bangkok from January 13 onwards, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has ordered mobile phone operators to boost frequencies to assist users. NBTC Secretary-General Thakorn Tantasith told journalists on Saturday that he has made the order, as he foresees the use of cell phones to be vital and extremely busy during the upcoming mass rallies of protesters, led by the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), which demands for the ouster of the caretaker government and for the national political reform before the new general election. Thakorn said that local cell phone operators have been asked to boost their frequencies from January 10 onwards, while mobile cars will be also on standby to help boost frequencies until the situation remains calm. NBTC will also dispatch its cars to inspect quality of signals of mobile phones, especially in areas where rallies take place in Bangkok and other provinces, to ensure that no interruption occurs and users can use cell phone effectively. (TNA)