The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will allocate existing analogue TV frequencies to use with digital radio later this year.
"Thailand will follow the best practices for digital radio. We will combine the process of the analogue TV switch-off with the rise of digital radio," said Col Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC’s broadcasting committee.
The regulator expects TV digitisation will be successful in the next two to three years, with the second stage of network expansion to cover over 80% of Thai households by June 2015.
Some 24 digital TV channels are expected to start broadcasting on Apr 1. Among them are three children's channels and seven each for news, variety in standard definition and variety in high definition.
It is not easy for the regulator to persuade existing major broadcasters to open the market to new players. Col Natee said the NBTC follows the principle of compromise, girding new platforms with existing major players, then opening the playing field to newcomers.
State-run broadcasters such as the Public Relations Department, the Royal Thai Army and MCOT Plc are designated as TV network providers and they may be awarded licences for network operators of digital radio as well.
The radio business is transforming to a licensing regime at the same time as it switches to a digital platform. The NBTC is scrutinising the use of radio frequencies by government agencies such as MCOT, the Public Relations Department, parliament and state universities.
The regulator allowed Kasetsart University to continue the operation of four radio stations on its own yesterday. However, the NBTC will consider the necessity of frequency use, as the permission runs to April 2017.
Likewise, every government agency holding a radio frequency must clarify their frequency use to the NBTC so that it may be scrutinised.
Furthermore, the NBTC approved a new draft regulation related to the second phase of the digital TV frequency allocation plan that will prevent frequency jams in the sixth digital TV network, which is set for community purposes.