NBTC sets panel for Line Mobile

The telecom regulator yesterday ordered the establishment of a working panel to determine if the controversial Line Mobile service is legitimate.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), which is seeking further clarification on the subject, has decided against immediately suspending the service as it would affect current costumers.

The regulator will meet with Line’s executives to discuss the issue by Monday.

The panel is expected to make a determination within the next 30 days, said Takorn Tantasith, the NBTC secretary-general.

“The NBTC does not want to intervene in the business at an early stage without having all the information,” he said.

The latest move comes after two of the major mobile operators — Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Move — submitted letters to the regulator urging it to have a clear ruling on whether Line Mobile can operate the service without a licence from the regulator.

AIS chief executive Somchai Lertsutivong said it is concerned with the ambiguous definition of Line Mobile, which launched on Tuesday. He said the service will affect the industry as other companies will operate mobile businesses without paying licensing fees.

An executive of True Move who requested anonymity said if Line Mobile can provide mobile service legally, it will hurt the industry and possibly damage the state’s benefits if other mobile firms follow the practice of Line Mobile.

Line Mobile offers digital mobile service, claiming users can enjoy lower prices and free Line services including LINE Messenger, LINE Calls, and LINE Video Calls, as well as watch LINE TV without data quota losses.

Line Mobile Thailand chief marketing officer Pavarisa Chumvigrant said Line Mobile is an independent team owned by DTAC TriNet (DTN). The voice and data services are operated by DTN.

Line has granted the rights for the name “Line Mobile” to DTN to reflect the strong collaboration between Line Mobile and Line Thailand. The two teams have been working closely on new services.

Line Mobile operates the service via DTN’s network.

All Line Mobile mobile numbers are generated by DTN because DTN is a mobile licensee of NBTC.

Mr Somchai said Line Mobile is very much like a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which requires an MVNO licence to operate mobile service.

An MVNO is a mobile operator that operates without its own telecom network but leases other network capacity to provide mobile service.