The article from the Bangkok Post focuses on National Telecom’s (NT) attempt to extend its usage rights for the 850MHz, 2100MHz, and 2300MHz spectrum bands beyond their expiration in September 2025.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is likely to reject this request, as the NBTC Act mandates that spectrum frequencies, which are national resources, must be reallocated through public auctions rather than automatic extensions. NT has faced similar legal issues before, and the NBTC is concerned that granting an extension would violate the law. NT is currently working on migrating users to the 700MHz spectrum, but the NBTC has expressed concerns about the lack of a detailed migration plan. NT’s extension request comes amid a backdrop of prior refusals by the NBTC, raising the possibility of legal challenges if an extension is improperly granted. Furthermore, this case highlights the broader tension between the need for regulatory compliance and NT’s business operations, with legal consequences potentially arising from any deviation from statutory processes.
This situation illustrates the legal complexity of spectrum management in Thailand, where regulatory frameworks prioritize auctions for fair allocation and emphasize the importance of national resources, aligning with the principles of transparency and competition in the telecommunications sector.