THAILAND

"ICT Ministry confident of smooth NBTC launch," by Usanee Mongkolporn, The Nation, (Bangkok), 27 May 2008: "Mun Patanotai yesterday said the Council of State was examining the amended Frequency Allocation Act, which mandates the establishment of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) [to replace separate regulatory bodies for telecoms and broadcasting]. He will forward the amended law for Cabinet approval next week and believes Parliament will pass the law within three months after its reading. The NBTC will have 10 commissioners: two from the radio-broadcasting industry, two from television broadcasting, three from telecoms and three from the combined fields of economics and law... Mun said the new watchdog would work in accordance with ministry policy. One industry source is doubtful how the licensing body can remain neutral if it must follow ministry policy..."

Wi-Fi

"ารกิจการโทรคมนาคมแห่งชาติ ว่าด้วยมาตรฐานทางเทคนิคของเครื่องโทรคมนาคมและอุปกรณ์ เรื่อง เครื่องวิทยุคมนาคมที่ใช้เทคโนโลยี Broadband Wireless Access ในลักษณะ Radio Local Area Network (RLAN)," [Technical standard for the use of radio communication technology for broadband wireless access in a Radio Local Area Network (RLAN)], published by the National Telecommunications Commission in the Government Gazette, Vol. 24, No. 9, page 124 (26 January 2007), in Thai. This covers spread spectrum equipment using the bands 2.400-2.500 GHz (100mW), 5.150-5.350 GHz (200 mW), 5.470-5.725 GHz (1W), and 5.725-5.850 GHz. For Wi-Fi the equipment must conform either to FCC or ETSI rules (no mention that outdoor use is still prohibited as it was before the adoption of this regulation - a prohibition that was widely ignored). 5.8 GHz equipment must conform to FCC rules.
"ทรู Wi-Fi Outdoor ลงทุน 100 ล้านเป้าสิ้นปีล 9;กค้า5หมื่น พิมพ์ ส่งเมล" [True Wi-Fi Outdoor invests 100 million baht, targets customers with year-end mailing], Line Manager, 30 October 2006 in Thai. This article says that True Corp. plans to expand its outdoor Wi-Fi business beyond Siam Square and Silom. It also suggests that True already operates 3,400 outdoor Wi-Fi access points serving about 13,000 customers in Bangkok and 50 Thai provinces.
This commentary shows what the situation had been like before 2007: "Outdated laws holding back Wi-Fi networking," by Tony Waltham, Bangkok Post, 21 June 2006:
"Outdoor use [is] still technically illegal. Thailand has yet to authorise the 5GHz radio frequency spectrum used by the IEEE 802.11a Wi-Fi standard... This spectrum is now assigned here to aeronautical radio navigation, earth exploration and satellite radio location, space research and fixed earth-to-space communications... Cisco Systems can no longer sell its Wi-Fi PCMCIA cards since they all now integrate 802.11a 5GHz communications with the other 802.11b and 802.11g standards that use frequencies at 2.4 GHz. As a result they cannot be 'type-approved' for use here... Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia, apart from Indonesia, that had not authorised wireless data access for these 5GHz frequencies on a secondary basis, [Cisco Systems Thailand director of advanced technology solutions, Vatsun Thirapatarapong] pointed out. Even Cambodia had done this... Wireless communications in Thailand are governed by the Telecommunication Act of 1955 and data communications are still subject to limitations that are unrealistic, he said. Power output is limited to 100 milliwatts... Another limitation was that Wi-Fi could only legally be used inside buildings, hence across university campuses or even sitting at an open-air table in front of a Starbucks outlet, using its Wi-Fi link, was illegal..."
"Bring on the telecommunications de-regulators!" by Geoff Long, Bangkok Post, 2 November 2005, in English.
"Wireless Technology: RWBA crosses the divide," by Asina Pornwasin, The Nation, 18 February 2005: "Hoping to bridge the digital divide, the National Electronics Computer and Technology Centre (Nectec) has developed what it calls Rural Wireless Broadband Access (RWBA) by utilising wireless technology to allow people in remote areas to communicate with the outside world... RWBA will use a satellite-network access system and Wi-Fi technology in place of conventional copper cables to connect subscribers to their local exchange... 'It utilises voice-over-IP with computer telephony to allow people living in the so-called "last mile" to talk to others, as well as access the Internet through the same wireless network,' said Sutat..."
"Chiang Mai Uni joins the wireless revolution," by Sasiwimon Boonruang, Bangkok Post, 20 September 2006: "Chiang Mai University (CMU) is the latest campus to adopt a wireless network strategy... CMU has 137 wireless access points covering areas including the central library, faculty libraries, the Information Technology Service Centre (ITSC), and dormitories... Currently, there are around 4,000 registered users on the Wi-Fi network... The university plans to regularly expand the coverage area... 30 universities nationwide [are] conducting Wi-Fi pilot projects...."
"Ministerial Regulation on the Exemption from Being Granted a Licence for Certain Radiocommunications Equipment and Radiocommunications Stations, B. E. 2547" (15 January 2004): among the exempted devices are wireless microphones, cordless phones, GSM handsets, ISM equipment and "Radiocommunications equipment which is used in the operating frequencies between 2400-2500 MHz with the output power that has an equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) not exceeding 100mW..."
"Licensing Requirements for Short-range Radiocommunication Devices (SRDs) and Low Power Radiocommunication Equipment," Post and Telegraph Department, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (no date).
"PTD Announcement on Permission to Use Radiocommunication Equipment in the Frequency Band 2400-2500 MHz by the General Public,"(English translation, 3 pages): without a license, only private indoor use of Wi-fi is allowed above 2.4 GHz.
"Win Win wins Wi-Fi licence," by Usanee Mongkolporn, The Nation (Bangkok), 24 May 2007: "Under a 10-year-investment plan, Win Win Net will roll out 30,000 Wi-Fi networks across the country, of which 2,000 will be up and running this year. It targets 1.5 million Wi-Fi subscribers within the next three years, which would enable it to break even, Sitichai said. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) yesterday awarded a 15-year licence to Win Win Net to develop the project.."
Thailand Hot-Spot List.
"Business Case Analysis of Rural Wireless Broadband Access: A Case Study of Implementing Wi-Fi for a Rural Community Network in Thailand," by Kanchana Wanichkorn, powerpoint presentation for the APEC TEL Workshop on "Wi-Fi Connectivity in Rural and Remote Communities," Bangkok, 3-5 April 2005.
"True widens WiFi hotspots to include Bangkok cinemas," by Srisamorn Phoosuphanusorn, Bangkok Post, 20 July 2005: "The network expansion to cinemas is in line with the telecommunication firm's plan to expand its Wi-Fi service to 500 hotspots this year from the existing 300 locations at department stores, restaurant chains, hotels and office buildings..."

RFID

มาตรฐานทางเทคนิคของเครื่องโทรคมนาคมและอุปกรณ์ กทช. มท. 1010 - 2550 เครื่องวิทยุคมนาคม ประเภท Radio Frequency Identification: RFID [Technical standard 1010 - 2550 for radiocommunication devices of the type RFID], in Thai, published in the Government Gazette, 2007. Covers the frequency bands: below 135 kHz, 13.553-13.567 MHz, 433.05-434.79 MHz, 920-925 MHz, 2.4-2.5 GHz and 5 GHz.
Thai RFID Alliance
"Getting ready for RFID," by Sasiwimon Boonruang, Bangkok Post, 12 April 2006. See also "Outlook for RFID Players" in the same issue: "The Thailand RFID market is small, said Ms Oswal, but CAGR growth of approximately 14% is expected for the next five years. RFID applications in Thailand include security and access control at Shinawatra and Thammasat universities as well as animal tracking in the shrimp, chicken and cattle farming sectors. The new Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok will also use RFID for baggage handling..."
"Thailand RFID Markets" - a Frost and Sullivan research service (via Research and Markets, May 2006: "The RFID market in Thailand was worth $16.3 million in 2005 and is expected to reach $32.0 million by 2010, driven mainly by growth in manufacturing and logistics..." See also "Thailand a big market for RFID technology," by Aranee Jaiimsin, Bangkok Post, 13 May 2006.
"Directions set for RFID," by Pongpen Sutharoj, The Nation, 13 February 2007: "To encourage the use of radio frequency identification system (RFID) technology in Thailand, the Software Industry Promotion Industry Agency (Sipa) has set a direction for RFID development in four key areas. They include the development of RFID in logistics systems, retail businesses, animal tracking, and for near-field communication applications..."
"Nectec sets direction for RFID development," by Pongpen Sutharoj, The Nation, 8 February 2008: "To set the direction to develop a radio frequency identification (RFID) industry in the country, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) has developed the first RFID industry road map to encourage the use of RFID technology and stimulate local research and development... The road map is to be a guideline for the industry's development for five years, from 2008 to 2013... In Thailand alone, it's estimated that the total RFID market in 2008 will reach Bt1.9 billion..."
"Smart Cards for the Farm: Putting RFID to Use in the Agriculture Sector" and "RFID Catches on for Abalone" Bangkok Post, 7 June 2006.
"Vehicles tagged by RFID," by Asina Pornwasin, The Nation (Bangkok), 27 February 2007: "The Department of Land Transport will introduce regulations to force all vehicle owners to renew their annual vehicle tax with the new stickers having an RFID tag embedded within..."
"Thai Shrimp Exporters Use RFID for Automation, Traceability," by Mary Catherine O'Connor, RFID Journal, 12 July 2007.
"Setting the record straight" - journalist Don Sambandaraksa interviews ICT Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, Bangkok Post, 30 May 2007: "Mahanakorn university today is doing research into 30GHz and 60GHz, but it is still at least 10 years away... Sitthichai was more vocal on the long-running smart ID card saga. 'Yes, I did think of stopping the [RFID identity card] project, but the public seems to think that it's cool. Personally, I think the project is nonsense, but it is something that the people demand. Who am I to go against the will of the people? All I can do is get acceptable cards at the cheapest price. I'm not brave enough politically to tell everyone that we should go back to using the old type cards,' he said. The reason that the Terms of Reference had not been updated to include the latest encryption technology was that he did not want the card to be expensive and that the card was not to be used to its full potential anyway..."

Etc.

"A Royal proclamation formally established the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on October 1 [2004]. It can now fully exercise its roles as Thailand's telecommunication regulator pursuant to the provisions of the Act on the Organization to Assign Radio Frequency and to Regulate the Broadcasting and Telecommunication Services B.E. 2543 (2000) and the Telecommunication Business Act B.E. 2544 (2001)..." (from "Policy and Regulatory Update - Thailand," APEC TEL 31 Working Group, April 2005.
"Cisco calls for wireless reform" by Tony Waltham, Bangkok Post, 10 November 2004.
From RegulateOnline, 25 February 2005: "Thailand's National Telecom Commission (NTC) has selected the consortium of Ericsson Thailand and Baker & McKenzie as its consultant to draw up guidelines for new telecommunications licensing rules..."
"Thailand limits frequency allocation to non-commercial firms," 11 March 2005, Telecom Asia Daily [NOTE: a careful reading of this article shows that the headline is misleading: while only noncommercial applicants can get new licenses between April and July, while the new telecom regulator is being set up, businesses may still renew their licenses]: "An interim plan for allocating telecommunication frequencies, which is scheduled to become effective next month and last until July, will grant new spectrums for non-commercial use only, The Nation reports... and among those eligible were newly created state agencies needing to set up internal communications. New spectrums granted under the scheme could be used for one year only. However, the NTC could extend for one year the expiry dates of existing frequencies being used either commercially or non-commercially..."
For a harsh but relevant view of recent spectrum politics in Thailand (oriented toward broadcasting), see "Media Reform Going Backward? edited by Sopit Wangvivatana, ISBN 974-93832-5-7, Thai Broadcast Journalists Association and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2006 in English

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