Gör om - och gör nytt, säger Korn - innan nästa regering hittar på nya direktiv i den eviga 3G frågan.
Det har dragit ut så långt på tiden att de istället kanske borde koncentrera sig på utbygnaden av 4G.
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Korn and NTC differ on 2G, 3G licence changeover
Korn keen to ensure state benefits as concessions are ended, licences sold
While the government has vowed to create a level playing field in the telecom industry this year by terminating private concessions, the national regulator is trying to avoid getting caught up in this complicated issue in case it derails its 3G spectrum licensing plan.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said yesterday he wants to see complete termination of the private telecom concessions in order for concession holders to obtain 15-year licences from the National Telecom-munications Commission (NTC) within the year, to promote a fair and competitive telecom industry between 2G players and 3G players.
The move also aims to ensure smooth granting of the NTC's 3G spectrum licence in a way that the state interests are not affected. Korn admitted the plan's success depended on support from all involved parties, from private telecom operators to the NTC.
NTC commissioner Natee Sukonrat said the watchdog welcomed talks with the government, but the NTC should avoid being drawn deeply into this complicated issue because of concerns it might cause the NTC to delay its plan to auction the 3G licences in September.
He said it was better for the government to finish talking with private concession holders first on the concession termination, and give final details to the NTC later. The NTC was willing to grant 2G licences for them.
He also questioned if terminating the concessions to get the 2G licences meant the government wanted to give the telecom operators another 15 years to hold on to the 2G spectrums, as in his view they should be taken back for re-allocation for other uses.
He questioned if the government could finish the concession termination quickly, saying it might be hard for officials and operators to reach satisfactory agreement on the details.
The NTC is expected to publish the final licensing draft plan in the Royal Gazette this month.
It wants to hasten auction of the licences in September before the terms of its three commissioners run out in that month.
If the plan is delayed, the authority of the four commissioners still in their posts at that time to grant the licences could be challenged.
Korn still believes the government and the NTC can work together on the matter.
The Finance Ministry will submit an outline of concession termination to the economic ministers' council today.
Among the highlights are:
The Finance and ICT ministries will set up a joint committee to steer concession termination and finish the termination details in 100 days;
Termination of the 2G private telecom concessions and concession holders getting their licences. Then 2G licence holders will pay 12.5 per cent of annual revenue as a licence fee. They might also have to pay an upfront fee for the concession termination, dependent on their concession terms, customer numbers, and frequency use.
The Finance Ministry has already recommended the NTC increase the 3G annual licence fee from the present 6 per cent to 12.5 per cent, as well as create a level playing-field among the 2G and 3G players.
But Korn said the figure of 12.5 per cent was just a model figure and he would talk to the NTC about finalising it.
He will first discuss what would be an additional fee of 6.5 per cent on the 3G licence if the NTC agreed to raise the licence fee to 12.5 per cent.
Korn said one option was for the additional fee might be determined as a spectrum fee.
Korn added that the 12.5 per cent figure was based on an assumption the government would not lose benefits from the 3G licensing.
He said the government did not oppose the NTC's 3G licence auction but wanted to make sure the licensing would create fair competition in the industry between the 2G and 3G players.
"We don't oppose the 3G licensing and we want to see it happening," Korn said.
The NTC is expected to raise at least Bt40 billion from the auction of the three licences. It will transfer all proceeds from the auction to state coffers.
Korn said after the termination of the TOT and CAT Telecom concessions, both could still seek revenue from their networks by leasing them to companies to provide the service on a retail basis.
