COME TOGETHER

NBTC under pressure over compensation

Telecom and broadcasting operators urge the regulator to consider the social impact of the ongoing spectrum recall.

Telecom and broadcasting operators are urging the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to consider the social impact of the spectrum recall and compensation regime scheduled for the end of this year.

The NBTC is in the process of recalling unused spectrum and spectrum that has not been maximally used from all spectrum holders for auction in the future.

Definitions of “unused spectrum” and “spectrum that has not been maximally used” were the main concern of a focus group at a hearing of the draft regulation for the spectrum recall and compensation regime held by the NBTC yesterday.

Participants at the hearing proposed a compensation regime not only for spectrum holders, but also for all related parties, including consumers who will be affected by the recall.

Recalling unused spectrum is in line with the new Frequency Allocation Act that went into effect in June, which states that the NBTC must recall spectrum slots held by state agencies that are inefficiently used, to reallocate them by auction.

The new law also allows the regulator to pay compensation to spectrum holders to make the management of spectrum easier.

The hearing drew more than 100 participants, including representatives of state-run enterprises that hold spectrum, and telecom and broadcasting operators.

NBTC will hold a grand public hearing in November and the draft is expected to be done and effective by end of this year, with the spectrum recall process starting in January 2018.

The spectra t o be recalled are the 2600MHz, 700MHz, 1500MHz and 2300MHz.

Rungsun Channarukul, TOT senior executive vice-president for wireless business, said NBTC has not clearly defined what the “spectrum that has yet to be maximally used” means.

Besides the economic benefits, NBTC must also consider the social benefits, he said. Would a spectrum provided to a small number of people in a remote area be considered a spectrum that has not maximally used, he asked.

TOT currently holds the right to use 64MHz of bandwidth on t he 2300MHz spectrum until 2025, with the NBTC’s approval.

Under the regulatory draft, spectrum holders must make it clear to the NBTC that they use the entire spectrum range to a maximum. If spectrum holders fail to do so, they have to return the unused spectrum to the NBTC, according to the draft’s condition. A spectrum holder who refuses to return the unused spectrum will be issued with an administrative order and could end up in court.

A Thai PBS TV station representative said the compensation regime should consider the social impact on viewers who may have to buy new receiver equipment.

The NBTC has set the 700MHz spectrum range as a recall priority, with digital and analogue TV channels using 92MHz of bandwidth on the spectrum. The regulator has approved in principle that the 700MHz band should be used for wireless broadband service in compliance with the global standard.