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TELECOMMUNICATIONS
KOMSAN TORTERMVASANA
Number portability _ the ability of consumers to keep the same telephone number even if they switch companies _ is among the issues the National Telecommunications Commission hopes to deal with before its current term expires. The industry regulator also expects to clarify policies on third-generation (3G) mobile phone services and Wi-Max, according to NTC secretary-general Suranant Wongwittayakamchorn.
He said number portability would take time to implement because operators would need to improve their billing software and establish a central clearing house first.
He expected number portability could be available by the third quarter of next year.
In preparation for the expansion of 3G services, the NTC will hold public consultations over the next two weeks and expects to be ready to invite investors to seek licences by the start of next year.
Regulation of high-speed broadband internet or Wi-Max was also expected to be announced early next year, Mr Suranant said.
The NTC is expected to be replaced by a new regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) sometime next year if the relevant laws can be passed. Several previous attempts to set up a broadcasting regulator have failed in the face of political infighting and claims of conflict of interest.
Telecom expert Anuparp Thiralarp warned that if the NTC announced regulations on 3G licensing and invited operators to invest, it could trigger new disputes and bring about court cases.
He said radio frequency allocation was a very delicate issue and could become the focus of a power play by politicians.
Discussing number portability, Advanced Info Service president Wichien Mektrakarn said a clearing house represented a big investment but could become a waste if there was a poor response from consumers.
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