NBTC requires 3G phone service fees to cut by 15-20%

BANGKOK, October 22 (TNA) - Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) says that 3G mobile phone service providers are required to cut their fees by 15-20 per cent from current rates. The NBTC acknowledged on Monday if the 3G service fees drop by 15-20 per cent from their average rate currently at 899 baht a month, local phone users will save altogether 4.5-6 billion baht monthly and the saved money throughout the 15-year-long validity of new 3G licences will amount to 820 billion-1 trillion baht. The NBTC announced that it will not issue a 3G licence for the use of the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum until the operators agree to cut their 3G fees for voice and data services by at least 15-20 per cent from their current rates for the sake of service users. The NBTC also requires the operators to present their corporate social responsibility (CSR) plans and it will then supervise the quality and continuation of their phone services. The NBTC has also formed a working group to examine behaviors of the 3G winning bidders in the October 16- auction to ensure transparency, with at least an experienced public prosecutor to be included in the working group tasked with the scrutiny within 15 days. If the working group does not find any irregularity, the NBTC will issue 3G licences in seven following days. (TNA)