(Bangkok post file photo)Academics and consumer advocates have slammed the regime's decision to invoke Section 44 to ease the financial burden on three telecom operators and digital TV broadcasters, saying the move offers favourable treatment to private firms at the expense of public benefit. Telecom operators have been given 30 days to decide if they want to extend their 4G-spectrum repayments obligations -- worth over 100 billion baht -- to 10 instalments over 10 years. In return, they are required to purchase the 700MHz spectrum for the 5G service, with at least two operators likely to pay about 25 billion baht each. As such, the NBTC will have fresh funds to cover the loss of revenue from digital TV licensees. Mr Somkiat said that the auction of the 5G bands and its plan to compensate digital TV operators should not be linked, as they are two separate issues.

Source: Bangkok Post May 29, 2019 23:26 UTC