Panel to check on telecoms

The government moved yesterday to put the country's telecom networks under the microscope, following reports about local or foreign operators listening in on conversations.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said he had authorised a panel to look for any secret or unlawful operations embedded in the entire telecom system - wireless or wired, whether run by authorities or companies on concessions.

The task force - led by ICT Ministry permanent secretary Kraisorn Pornsutee and staffed with technicians from TOT and CAT Telecom - will try to uncover any activities that detracted from the public's use of telecommunications or illegally or unfairly exploited users.

It has 60 days to report its findings.

Local mobile-operators insist they have never eavesdropped on local customers, but the government is taking nothing for granted.

"If they say no, we'll take it as a no for now, but the panel will look into that after setting up technical measures needed for inspection," Sitthichai said.

The government might consider taking back telecoms from foreign operators, but for that to happen, their sales contracts must include buy-back options, or else those operators must breach major deal conditions. "Otherwise, it will badly hurt foreign investors' confidence in Thai authorities and Thai companies in all industries," he said.

Thailand News
The Nation Thailand
Friday January 26, 2007