การใช้โครงข่ายโทรคมนาคม : อดีต ปัจจุบัน และอนาคต

Abstract

In telecommunications business, there are two main types of telecom operators, i.e. the operator with its own network and the operator without its own network. In operating its business, the operator with its own network requires relatively high investment costs and higher utilization of public resources than that required by the operator without its own network.  For example the use of radio spectrum, which is limited in nature, the use of public rights-of-way, e.g. building last mile infrastructure to customers’ homes and seeking access to poles, ducts or conduits controlled by utility authorities. Those investment and technical constraints tend to restrict the new entrants to the industry, thereby resulting in the natural monopoly characteristic of this network industry and allowing limited number of players in the telecom business.

The National Telecommunications and Broadcasting Commission plays an important role in facilitating the market competition through various measures imposed on the operators owning the networks, requiring them to “open” their networks to other telecom operators, regulating the access price to be reasonable, fair and non-discriminatory, including intervening in case of disputes for the benefits of consumers and reduce operators’ overinvestment problem.

This article aims to study the “telecom network access” amongst operators, to demonstrate Thailand’s various forms of network access in the past up until present, the related regulations and measures, the problems occurred, including the trends and regulatory recommendations in future.