Regulator spurns US telecom proposals
The board of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has repeatedly rejected pressure from the US, funnelled through the Commerce Ministry, for Thailand to fully open the domestic telecom sector to 100% foreign ownership, as well as adopt US standards for the use of the upper 6 gigahertz spectrum band for WiFi.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in Thailand has steadfastly rejected repeated US pressure, through the Commerce Ministry, to fully open the domestic telecom sector to 100% foreign ownership and adopt US standards for the use of the upper 6 gigahertz spectrum band for WiFi. NBTC Commissioner AM Thanapant Raicharoen stated that the board has unanimously rejected the US proposal multiple times over several months.
The NBTC's consistent rejection stems from concerns that defining the 6GHz band prematurely would hinder its ability to hold public spectrum auctions and that granting 100% foreign ownership would conflict with the NBTC Act and compromise national security. Additionally, the NBTC refused to commit to the US proposal to define the WiFi frequency standard as the upper band of 6GHz, arguing that this would restrict Thailand's sovereign rights to auction the spectrum for commercial mobile services like 5G/6G.
The NBTC maintains its stance to protect national spectrum assets and domestic telecom governance, expressing concern over potential diplomatic pressure, particularly given the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to Asia. The US proposals, some of which have been previously expressed interest by companies like Starlink, are seen as difficult to follow as they directly conflict with existing regulations and NBTC laws.
All licensing requirements for telecom services using foreign satellites in Thailand necessitate operations through a Thai company or a Thai-foreign joint venture, making it challenging for foreign entities to comply with the NBTC's rules.
Written by urgent.news from Bangkok Post Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
