Thailand's consumers to enjoy 3G services in 2013

BANGKOK, December 8 (TNA) - People in Thailand are expected to start enjoying the world's advance third generation (3G) wireless mobile phone services around April 2013, after the Thai government's Telecommunications Committee on Friday gave an approval to issue the 3G licence to three winning bidders. Colonel Settapong Malisuwan, Chairman of the Telecommunications Committee, told journalists that Friday's meeting of the Telecommunications Committee resolved to approve the issuance of the 3G licence to the three winning bidders, including Advanced Info Service’s Advanced Wireless Network, DTAC Network and True Corporation’s Real Future. Colonel Settapong said that the decision followed last Monday's ruling by the Administrative Court to reject a petition earlier filed by the Office of the Ombudsman asking the court to suspend the issuance of the 3G licence. The Administrative Court said in its verdict that the Office of the Ombudsman has no authority to file the injunction. Colonel Settapong noted that all the three winning bidders will be notified next week to start offering the 3G services, with the official 3G licence to be then issued to them by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). According to the Telecommunications Committee chair, the three winning bidders are required to, however, cut their service fees by at least 15 per cent when they start providing the 3G mobile phone services to consumers. Meanwhile, a Telecommunications Committee member, Suthipol Taweechaikarn, acknowledged that the 3G licence can be issued despite a pending appeal to the Administrative Court by the Office of the Ombudsman, as the Administrative Court has already ruled that the Office of the Ombudsman has no authority to file such the petition. (TNA)