Skip to main content

NBTC prepares for e-bidding for govt internet concessions

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is organizing an auction for concessions in the government's Net Pracharat program.

NBTC Secretary-General Takorn Tantasith has revealed that the commission will use electronic bidding to select companies for the eight concessions in Zone C of the Net Pracharat program. The concessions are worth a combined 19.6 billion baht.

He said that eligible bidders must either hold a third-tier networking telecommunications license or a first-tier license for the operators who do not have their own network. The bidders must also provide evidence that they have earnt a profit from their telecommunications business over the past year, as a way of ensuring the viability of their operations. Bidders that have operated in the sector for over three years must provide income statements indicating they have earnt an average revenue of over 10 percent of the value of their desired concession.

Those awarded the concessions will be tasked with fulfilling a five-year maintenance contract. They are not permitted to charge more than 349 baht per month for home internet services. Secretary-General Takorn said today that currently, there are 60 eligible bidders registered for the auction.

The NBTC will upload the bidding documents to the website of the Comptroller General’s Department within the week. The auction will kick off on August 20th and will conclude on September 14th. The list of winners will be announced from October 8th - 12th.

It is expected that the companies awarded with the concessions will ink the deal at the beginning of November. All Wi-Fi services in the participating villages should be operational by November 2019.

Net Pracharat aims to provide free, high-speed internet services to remote areas of the Kingdom, as part of the administration’s Thailand 4.0 agenda that underlines the use of digital technology to drive economic and social development. Zone C refers to remote areas of the Kingdom.

Information and Source
Reporter : Nuppol Suvansombut
Rewriter : Rodney McNeil
National News Bureau & Public Relations : http://thainews.prd.go.th


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Development of payment system in PTT gas stations

In the future, those who use the services of PTT petrol stations will be able to make convenient, fast, and safe payments through the PTT e-Wallet system. PTT and Kasikornbank recently signed an agreement to develop the PTT e-Wallet system. The system is expected to be launched in the last quarter of this year in keeping with the national e-payment policy of the government, which encourages more use of financial technology. Ms. Chiraporn Khaosawat, Deputy Managing Director of the Oil Business Unit of PTT Co., Ltd., recently dealt with the introduction of the PTT e-Wallet system as an alternative for customers in paying for goods and services at gas stations, that also offer convenience stores, using an application and cards. Since April, PTT has been using the system of paying for goods using QR codes. As a result, 20% more customers have come in to use the system. Therefore, it is likely that there will be more people turning up to make payments using the electronic system. Mr...

ACMECS leaders to implement master plan for 5-year development cooperation

 The leaders of countries participating in the Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, vowed to implement a five-year master plan for regional development, before the official opening ceremony this morning. The five member countries are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, which also constitute the CLMVT cluster. Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha presided over the opening ceremony. The summit is centered on approaches to carrying out the ACMECS Master Plan 2019-2023. The plan is the first of its kind to highlight infrastructure connectivity among the five member nations, as well as joint development of financial regulations and human resources. The summit is also expected to endorse the Bangkok Declaration. The declaration reflects the political intentions of ACMECS countries, while facilitating development cooperation in the region and the unification of the ASEAN bloc. World leaders, including Chinese Prime Minister Li K...

DPM Prawit:Govt yet to set dates for political party meetings

The Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs has insisted it is not yet time for the government to set clear dates for meetings with political parties or to lift the ban on political activities. Speaking to the press, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan asserted that the Kingdom has achieved a certain level of reconciliation. He assured reporters that all political activities will eventually be unlocked, and dates will be set for meetings with political parties ahead of the general election. When asked about a push for amnesty by the Palang Prachachat Party for those who have committed political crimes, Gen Prawit said he believes the matter should be discussed by the elected administration. Regarding reports of several political parties expressing their intention to abandon the current administration's 20-year national strategy, Gen Prawit replied that the plan could be amended if later administrations deemed it necessary. However, he claimed t...