ID :
142653
Sun, 09/19/2010 - 15:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/142653
The shortlink copeid
PM: Explains Thai delay on 3G licence auction; Laws to be pushed
BANGKOK, Sept 19 - As Thailand lags behind a number of Asian countries in implementing third generation (3G) wireless service, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday his government would push related telecoms laws through the current parliamentary session.
Speaking during his weekly TV and radio address, Mr Abhisit said he hoped that a clearer picture on the status of the planned 3G auction, first scheduled for Monday but now postponed indefinitely, would become clear this week.
If the auction cannot be held due to the delay, a coordinating committee of the House of Representatives has been urged to draft the law establishing the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to be responsible to conduct the auction.
“If the law passes the current parliamentary session, the process of appointing NBTC board members could start either late this year or early next year. The board will have authority to hold the auction,” Mr Abhisit said.
Reiterating that every government policy must be carried out under legal and constitutional frameworks, Mr Abhisit said a committee on information and communication technology had met Friday and agreed that accessing innovative technology for people throughout the country is an important objective and urgent for boosting the national economy and also upgrading the Thai society.
The 3G auction is now postponed indefinitely as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) awaits the ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court on Monday as to whether it would uphold a lower court injunction against the auction.
The three bidders--Advanced Info Service (AIS), DTAC and True Move--have been informed of the court decision to rule on the case.
The controversy erupted following a Central Administrative Court injunction to halt the upcoming 3G licence bidding process until the NBTC is established as prescribed under the 2007 Constitution, saying the NTC has no authority to allocate the frequencies. (MCOT online news)
Speaking during his weekly TV and radio address, Mr Abhisit said he hoped that a clearer picture on the status of the planned 3G auction, first scheduled for Monday but now postponed indefinitely, would become clear this week.
If the auction cannot be held due to the delay, a coordinating committee of the House of Representatives has been urged to draft the law establishing the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to be responsible to conduct the auction.
“If the law passes the current parliamentary session, the process of appointing NBTC board members could start either late this year or early next year. The board will have authority to hold the auction,” Mr Abhisit said.
Reiterating that every government policy must be carried out under legal and constitutional frameworks, Mr Abhisit said a committee on information and communication technology had met Friday and agreed that accessing innovative technology for people throughout the country is an important objective and urgent for boosting the national economy and also upgrading the Thai society.
The 3G auction is now postponed indefinitely as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) awaits the ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court on Monday as to whether it would uphold a lower court injunction against the auction.
The three bidders--Advanced Info Service (AIS), DTAC and True Move--have been informed of the court decision to rule on the case.
The controversy erupted following a Central Administrative Court injunction to halt the upcoming 3G licence bidding process until the NBTC is established as prescribed under the 2007 Constitution, saying the NTC has no authority to allocate the frequencies. (MCOT online news)
