The national telecom regulator is working on regulations for a universal service obligation (USO) fund, a key to providing equal access to telecom services for all Thais.
One member of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Artorn Chandavimol, said that the NTC was expected to finalise USO regulations shortly.
The USO requires that holders of "third-type" telecom licenses invest in services for specific remote areas. The third-type licence is for those that have their own large and dedicated networks. If the operators refuse to invest in remote areas, they have to contribute to the USO fund so that the NTC can get other operators to provide service in those areas. Artorn said that in some countries, operators have to pay 2% – 6% of their revenues to a USO fund.
Artorn said that there are around 1,000 villages in Thailand that are unserved by telecom networks. These are areas with no public telephone service and which mobile-phone networks also do not cover. TOT Corp, which has solely financed telecom infrastructure development in remote areas, is expected to ask for money from the USO fund to compensate for its investment.
Besides the USO regulation, the NTC is expected to finish several relevant regulations this month to support the awarding of licenses to both TOT and CAT Telecom. NTC secretary Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn said the commission would meet with executives of TOT and CAT on Friday to work out interconnection charges.
In a separate matter, Suranan revealed that six companies have applied to the commission for licenses to provide Internet access. The six are TT&T and its subsidiary TT&T Subscriber Services, Proimage Engineering and Communication, ISSP, Otaro, and True Internet. The NTC awarded the first Internet service license last month to KSC Commercial Internet.
Source: Thai News Service - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News
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