NBTC called for quick 3G licensing

BANGKOK, November 2 (TNA) - Academics and business operators have urged the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to quickly issue 3G mobile phone licences; otherwise, Thailand will lose opportunities and competitiveness. Sutham Yunaitham, head of the Law School of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, cautioned if the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) failed to issue 3G licences right away as announced, it would be considered as committing an administrative mistake. Sutham pointed out that the NBTC's 3G frequency auction had been concluded and prices and returns from the auction were under its administrative decisions and had nothing to do with an investigation into the transparency of the auction. Sutham acknowledged that in telecommunications-related businesses, consumers have already been legally protected from unfair treatment by service providers, and that without 3G services, Thailand could not compete with other countries. Vichai Bencharongkul, President of the Telecommunications Association of Thailand, said Thailand is ranked the world's 77th for its technological development and without 3G services, the country's ranking will certainly fall below 100th, arguing that the opposition to 3G services is in contrast to consumers’ demand for swift, stable and continual communications. Vichai assessed that 3G services will help the Thai government achieve its goal of providing some 85 per cent of the Thai population with access to broadband, Wi-Fi and wireless communication services by 2015. Tawil Paungma, President of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, even opined that 3G mobile phone services should have happened in Thailand a decade ago, noting that the 3G services enable some 10 million people in Thailand to use mobile phones and 400 million baht will change hands daily; while the state will generate indirect revenues from the value-added tax and there will be about 100,000 new jobs, urging opponents to also look into the 3G merits. (TNA)