The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is revising its previous regulations on foreign dominance for Thai telecom operations, expected to be completed next month.
Thares: Public hearing set on Friday
The rule is aimed at curbing foreign dominance of Thai telecom operators.
The National Telecommunications Commission, the former incarnation of the NBTC, defined foreign dominance as direct or indirect control over policies and the appointment of directors and high-ranking management.
Sethapong Malisuwan, the NBTC's vice-chairman, said foreigners are not worried about the regulation, but they are concerned over its ambiguous rules.
He said some issues might be scrapped because they were counter to national security interests.
Today the NBTC will hold its first subcommittee meeting on preparations for allocating frequencies on the 2100 Megahertz band for 3G services. A 3G licensing auction is expected by the third quarter this year.
Col Sethapong noted some investors want to join the 2100 MHz licensing auction but are wary of the rule.
Thares Punsri, the NBTC's chairman, said it plans to hold a public hearing for its three draft master plans on Friday.
The drafts involve spectrum management, and telecom and broadcasting master plans.
The NBTC will hold the event in Bangkok and other provinces simultaneously to garner opinions and recommendations, he said.
A Bangkok event will be held at Muang Thong Thani, while similar events will be held at the Dusit Thani in Chiang Rai, Udon Thani Rajabhat University and the Metropole Hotel in Phuket.