The 17th Asia Telecom Information Exchange (ATIE), New Delhi, 6th May 2013
Future of the Thai Telecommunications
in the Age of Convergence:
NBTC’s perspective
Dr. Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commissioner
1.Background at a glance
สำนักงำน กสทช.
Failure in conducting the previous auction
The NTC prepared
the auction
CAT filed a lawsuit
against the NTC
Mission was impossible !
The Administrative Court
affirmed by the Supreme
Administrative Court
issued a provisional
injunction
2. Successful regulatory tasks
Before NBTC establishment
สำนักงำน กสทช.
After NBTC establishment
New regulatory task of NBTC = Spectrum Auction
X
State Monopoly
X
Concession Contract
X 2.1 GHz spectrum left unused
3G auction
license
5
Network
roll out
obligation
Liberalization
3
regulations
Infra.
Sharing
MVNO
National
Roaming
Better
consumer
protection
3. Sequence of auction process
สำนักงำน กสทช.
Effort to facilitate auction: Revision
1.The removal of N-1
Condition
5. Reserve price
Encourage competition as a whole
4. Spectrum Cap
Prevent spectrum hoarding
Risk of leftover licenses
Inefficient use of spectrum
2. Spectrum Packaging
new block size
The spilt 5 MHz attracts new entrants
3. Collusion
prevention
Both legal and social measures
3. Sequence of auction process
สำนักงำน กสทช.
Regulatory obstacles
Before auction
1. File petition to Administrative
Court to revoke provisional
injunction on former auction
2. Revise regulations to
facilitate the implementation of
auction
3. Deal with attempt to revoke/
suspend the auction by affected
party
After auction
1. Question and call for clarification
done by the Senate, Representative,
National Anti-Corruption Commission
2. 7 Lawsuits at the Administrative
Court
3. Storm of public criticism and
misunderstanding by misleading info
Auction
conducted Oct
2012
7
3. Sequence of auction process
สำนักงำน กสทช.
What’ve we been through?
Consumers expects
variety of services
with low price.
Market needs to
be liberalized
Public
criticism
Regulator
Affected parties
wants to revoke
auction.
12-year lack
behind other
countries
Character of telecoms
market is always
evolving and has rapid
growth.
No absolute
regulations like onesize-fits-all model.
3. Sequence of auction process
สำนักงำน กสทช.
Regulatory obstacles
Public under
Problems
first-time-in-Thai-history spectrum auction
Complexity; full of technical issues
Different principles and rules from other auctions
Solution
Legal
Dimension
9
Social
Dimension
3. Sequence of auction process
สำนักงำน กสทช.
Regulatory obstacles
How to overcome?
Solution
Legal
Dimension
Clarification at Administrative Court and
government agencies
Adopted regulations to better ensure
competition
• Infrastructure Sharing
• MVNO
• National roaming
Social
Dimension
Auction result confirmed by the ITU
Strengthening stakeholders
consultation process
3. Sequence of auction process
สำนักงำน กสทช.
Assessment by the ITU
1. Spectrum licenses were efficiently and fairly assigned.
2. Licenses contain important measures to improve
competition
3. Benefit to consumers is ensured by price reduction of 15%
in comparison to 2G services
4. Principles, objectives, design and outcome are consistent
with international best practice.
11
4. Next challenge of regulatory tasks
สำนักงำน กสทช.
new context of technological convergence
Technological Convergence between Telecommunications Media and ICT’s
Telecommunications
Infrastructure
Voice Services
Media
Infrastructures
Media and Radio
Services
Digitalization
Regulation should be imposed
only where necessary and must
not block market development
ICT’s
Infrastructure
Informatics
Applications
4. Next challenge of regulatory tasks
Telecoms
สำนักงำน กสทช.
• Expiration of concession contracts in
several bands (900, 1800 MHz) will be available
for auction
• interim consumer protection measure in
transitory period
Broadcasting
• Digital TV auction (digital switchover)
Convergence
• Harmonization of digital dividend spectrum
13
5. Conclusion
สำนักงำน กสทช.
Increasing cooperation at both regional and
international levels
End of monopoly
and shift to
liberalization
14
- More
competition
among sectors
-Benefit for Thai
consumers
- Better
infrastructure
-Benefit for Thai
industry
สำนักงำน กสทช.
Q&A?
15
Thank you
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