BANGKOK, 27 March 2012 (NNT) – The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission of Thailand (NBTC) is aiming to reduce the price of mobile text messages to less than 3 baht each while also planning to enforce a law on spam messages within one year.

NBTC Commissioner Dr. Prawit Leesatapornwongsa said the commission would call a meeting with mobile phone service providers as well as producers of TV shows that welcome SMS messages from viewers to discuss the possibility of decreasing the cost of sending the text messages to below 3 baht.

According to Dr. Prawit, mobile phone users currently have to pay 3-6 baht per message, whereas the service providers’ operating cost is 8-16 times cheaper. Since the telecommunication law, enforced since 2006, obligates service providers to disclose details on the costs of their services, it has been discovered that the actual price of one message is only 37 satang.

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Dr. Prawit added that the NBTC would also enforce the law controlling SMS services within a year, instead of 2 years as previously speculated. Any spams or text messages showing information on gambling will come under the restrictions of this law.