The telecom regulator have asked five major mobile operators to provide users new internet usage packages on a kilobyte basis for data service.
The latest move is expected to bring fairer charges for mobile internet data service in line with a report by the National Reform Council's consumer protection reform committee earlier this month, said Korkij Darnchaivijit, vice secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
Currently the five mobile operators charge customers' internet usage on a megabyte basis under promotional packages. But the committee believes charging on a kilobyte basis would safeguard the public interest better.
Most mobile internet packages offer unlimited usage for data service. But many customers are under the pre-paid system and may be unfairly charged when their airtime usage for voice service runs out of credit.
The NBTC has informed the five operators to prepare their IT systems to accommodate the change of data service charges to a kilobyte basis.
"The new rate is expected to come into effect over the next few months," he said.
The move follows a push to change to per-second charges for voice service.
On Jan 8, Advanced Info Service, DTAC, True Move, TOT Plc and CAT Telecom agreed in principle to start charging customers on a per-second basis, with some new promotional packages to be launched on March 1. The change to a per-second basis came after the council endorsed a report on Jan 6 by its consumer protection reform committee.
The mobile operators said changing airtime charges to a per-second basis would take time in order to prepare their IT systems, including call data records and billing systems. They will also inform their customers about the change.
Per-second voice charges only apply to domestic calls, while international and roaming calls are charged on a six-second basis.
The NBTC also issued maximum tariffs for 3G services, which all 3G operators must comply with or face penalties.