The fourth-generation (4G) spectrum auctions may not take place this year after all if digital economy laws are not enacted by April, warns a digital economy working group.
Even worse, the initiative for a digital economy does not seem to be taking shape now that the Council of State wants the soon-to-be-established national digital economy committee to be chaired by a deputy prime minister and not the prime minister.
"There's no guarantee that 4G will even be rescheduled in the absence of the digital economy laws," a committee member said yesterday.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) earlier announced it intended to auction the 42.5-megahertz spectrum by this August since the mobile concession for the 900-MHz spectrum held by Advanced Info Service Plc expires on Sept 30.
The regulator's intention is in line with the junta's order last July 17 that the planned 4G auctions be postponed for a year, meaning the NBTC could start the auction process as soon as this July.
The source also said concerns were mounting as to whether the government can even get the digital economy initiative off the ground, as the drafting of the national digital economy committee bill is in the process of being overhauled, and this will take time.
The Council of State is on the verge of amending a slew of core internal legislative structures of the digital economy committee draft bill after the bill was criticised by academics and public.
"Such requirement changes can delay development of the digital economy," the source said.
The most important change is that the Council of State, led by Meechai Ruchuphan, prefers a deputy minister chair the national digital economy committee instead of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
It wants to reduce the number of committee members to only 12.
The Council of State said the changes were necessary to make the committee more effective and practical.
Initially, the digital economy working group proposed the committee comprise 32 members from ICT-related agencies and be chaired by Gen Prayut.
The Cabinet recently approved 10 of the digital economy draft bills including the most crucial national digital economy committee bill.
The source said the committee bill would be the most crucial element for implementing digital economy policy, particularly during the transition period for restructuring and renaming the ICT Ministry as the Digital for Economy and Society Ministry.
The bill is also needed to determine the purposes of frequencies — whether they will be used for public, commercial or national security purposes.