ID :
143351
Thu, 09/23/2010 - 12:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/143351
The shortlink copeid
Supreme Court upholds verdict to halt 3G bidding
BANGKOK, Sept 23 - Thailand's Supreme Administrative Court on Thursday upheld the Central Administrative Court's injunction to suspend distribution of the third generation (3G) wireless service, saying the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was not authorised to award the 3G licence.
Pol Col Nathee Sukolrat, an NTC member, said the NTC accepted the ruling and its members would meet in the afternoon before holding a press conference.
The Supreme Administrative Court reasoned that the NCT's criteria for granting 3G licences was illegal and the auction process, if continued, could cause severe damage.
It also pointed out that the 3G service which was in its first phrase could be offered to a small, limited network and that it takes at least four years to cover the whole country, so that suspending it currently will not be an obstacle to the future use of the technology.
The court ruled that the 3G auction should be held after the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is set up.
CAT Telecom filed a complaint against the NTC to block its 3G auction last week. The three bidders--Advanced Info Service (AIS), DTAC and True Move--have been informed of the court's decision.
The Central Administrative Court earlier handed down an injunction to halt the 3G licence bidding process until the NBTC was established as prescribed under the 2007 Constitution, saying the NTC was not empowered to allocate the frequencies. (MCOT online news)
Pol Col Nathee Sukolrat, an NTC member, said the NTC accepted the ruling and its members would meet in the afternoon before holding a press conference.
The Supreme Administrative Court reasoned that the NCT's criteria for granting 3G licences was illegal and the auction process, if continued, could cause severe damage.
It also pointed out that the 3G service which was in its first phrase could be offered to a small, limited network and that it takes at least four years to cover the whole country, so that suspending it currently will not be an obstacle to the future use of the technology.
The court ruled that the 3G auction should be held after the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is set up.
CAT Telecom filed a complaint against the NTC to block its 3G auction last week. The three bidders--Advanced Info Service (AIS), DTAC and True Move--have been informed of the court's decision.
The Central Administrative Court earlier handed down an injunction to halt the 3G licence bidding process until the NBTC was established as prescribed under the 2007 Constitution, saying the NTC was not empowered to allocate the frequencies. (MCOT online news)
