Thailand - Current situation - History

29.09.2014

Following the successful licence auction for commercial digital TV channels in December 2013, the National
Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is looking to auction a number of business broadcasting services for digital radio in 2015. The licences would be in the nationwide, regional and local. The auction will be held on a phase-by-phase basis.

DAB+ demonstrations began in Bangkok on 1st March 2013. NBTC and The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) jointly organised the ‘NBTC/ITU Workshop on Digital Radio Technologies’ held in Bangkok, Thailand, 1-3 March 2013.

The Workshop was supported by WorldDMB, MCOT (Mass Communication Organization of Thailand), the Thai Government Public Relations Department and the Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Station.

The first Thailand Broadcasting Master Plan (2012-2016) states strategies for digital terrestrial radio roll-out, and a roadmap and policy for digital terrestrial radio roll-out within two years after the adoption of the Master Plan.

NBTC is now in the process of developing a policy document for digital radio services that will be published in 2014. NBTC has supported the launch of services by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the digital radio trial with eight major broadcasters.

13.01.2014

Following the successful licence auction for commercial digital TV channels in December 2013, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission is looking to auction about 4,000 similar licences for digital radio in early 2015.

The licences would be in the nationwide and region-wide categories. There are expected to about 20 nationwide licences. The auction will be held on a phase-by-phase basis.

The NBTC's broadcasting committee will sign a memorandum of understanding with MCOT, the Public Relations Department and the Royal Thai Army at the end of January 2014 to conduct a year-long trial of digital radio broadcasting.

The digital radio service will be provided on VHF (very high frequency) bands that will be returned to the NBTC by the state agencies that own existing analog TV concessions.

The existing analog AM and FM radio frequencies will be allocated for community and public radio. Currently there are 525AM and FM channels nationwide.

The estimated final price of a commercial digital radio licence would be around Bt100,000. About 10 licences to provide network services to the prospective digital radio operators will also be granted.

The first Thailand Broadcasting Master Plan (2012-2016) states strategies for digital terrestrial radio roll-out, roadmap and policy for digital terrestrial radio roll-out within two years, after the adoption of the Master Plan.
DAB+ demonstrations started in Bangkok on 1st March 2013. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), jointly organised the “NBTC/ITU Workshop on Digital Radio Technologies” held in Bangkok, Thailand, 1-3 March 2013. The Workshop was supported by WorldDMB, MCOT Public Co., LTd., the Government Public Relations Department, and the Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Station.

NBTC is in the process of developing a policy document for digital radio services that will be published in 2014.