NRC: Per-second cell charges for all

NRC: Per-second cell charges for all

The National Reform Council on Thursday warned mobile-phone operators that this week’s agreement to charge customers on a per-second basis must be a permanent change to the airtime system, not just a temporary promotion.

The warning came after five major carriers - AIS, DTAC, True Move, TOT and CAT Telecom - met with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission on Wednesday to discuss per-second airtime rates and sign an agreement to provide new promotional packages based on the system.

Dtac models highlight a new plan. The National Reform Council has warned mobile-phone operators that the per-second charge rate is a permanent move and not just a promotion. (Bangkok Post photo)

Currently, call charges are rounded up to the minute.

Regulators said they want the entire industry to charge everyone -- whether prepaid or postpaid -- on a per-second basis, even though none of the carriers responded to the request and only offered to create promotions that offer per-second pricing, according to NBTC commissioner Prawit Leesathapornwong.

Saree Ongsomwang, who chairs an NRC committee on consumer-protection reform, said the mobile operators must adjust their airtime-fee structure as suggested by the NRC.

The change endorsed by the NRC is aimed at preventing operators from overcharging mobile-phone users and creating a fairer rate structure, Ms Saree said.

She said the committee will meet with representatives from the NBTC, mobile operators and consumers on Saturday to discuss ways to implement a more-systematic and comprehensive per-second system and the earliest effective date for implementation.

Most operators have remained tight-lipped on how the proposal will work and the impact on revenue.

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