BANGKOK, Dec 8 – Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has resolved to issue third generation (3G) wireless licences to three mobile phone operators with a condition they reduce the service fees by at least 15 per cent, according to a senior committee member.
Col Settapong Malisuwan, chairman of the Telecommunications Committee which is attached to the NBTC, said the three companies will receive official letters next week, informing them to kick off preparations for 3G service which should be fully launched by April next year.
He said the NBTC will add an addendum to each agreement, compelling every operator to reduce the service fees by 15 per cent given a continuous decline of service fee in the market by at least 10 per cent.
The three mobile phone operators qualified for the 3G wireless licences are Advanced Info Service (AIS), DTAC and True Move.
Suthipol Taweechaikarn, a member of the NBTC’s Telecommunications Committee, said the licences will be issued despite an appeal to the Administrative Court by the Office of the Ombudsman seeking an injunction to the NBTC’s auction.
He said the NBTC will follow the Central Administrative Court’s earlier ruling that the Ombudsman was not authorised to file the injunction.
