PM: Explains Thai delay on 3G licence auction; Laws to be pushed

BANGKOK, Sept 19 – As Thailand lags behind a number of Asian countries in implementing third generation (3G) wireless service, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday his government would push related telecoms laws through the current parliamentary session.

Speaking during his weekly TV and radio address, Mr Abhisit said he hoped that a clearer picture on the status of the planned 3G auction, first scheduled for Monday but now postponed indefinitely, would become clear this week.

If the auction cannot be held due to the delay, a coordinating committee of the House of Representatives has been urged to draft the law establishing the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to be responsible to conduct the auction.

MCOT