Mobile Number Portability Thai Laws and Their Effects in 2010
http://www.lawsays.net/articles/4544/1/Mobile-Number-Portability-Thai-Laws-and-Their-Effects-in-2010/Page1.html
Gregory Smyth
For nearly 30 years, Bamrung Suvicha Apisakdi Law Associates (BSA Law) has focused on providing reliable legal advice and services to the Thai and foreign business community in Thailand. We provide international standards of legal services while retaining the customs of the Thai business culture. By Gregory Smyth
Published on 02/2/2010
The business side of Thai law has more of an impact on the average citizen's life than many realize; laws that cause changes in the business world inevitably effect the public also. One of the most prominent recent examples of this is the mobile number portability laws which came into effect mid-late last year.
Though much of the talk surrounding the new Thai laws on mobile number portability has died down, it has actually been only recently that mobile phone carriers were scheduled to commence mobile number portability service.
Since the start of November 2009, portability has been enabled for all Thai mobile phone users. While mobile phone companies are concerned about the infrastructure holding up and the network upgrades that may be needed, consumers are relieved that they finally have the opportunity to choose a provider based on merit, rather than being stuck with the carrier that owns their phone number. Thai legal services today examine the impact that mobile number portability has had on the consumer landscape and on corporate legal compliance.
The Mobile Number Portability Thai laws
From a consumer point of view, this Thai law is simple - it means that all mobile phone operators must make it possible for consumers to switch providers while keeping their old number. Thai legal services see the main objective of the law as ensuring competition in the marketplace through removing the practical constraints to consumer choice in the service they use.
For communications companies, the new Thai law means:
They must collaborate to develop an implementation strategy and also create a consortium for the new regulations.
The porting process must be completed within three business days, counted from the date of the application. Thai legal services have so far handled a couple of consumer complaints about speed of porting service from mobile phone companies.
Operators are responsible for checking whether the number was legally acquired, subject to any national security issues, or subject to any legal procedures or lawful orders. Thai corporate legal services have been working closely on the implementation of this part of the law with operators, which can be administratively tricky.
One particular issue that consumers should be aware of is that if they terminate the service after the porting has occurred, the 'ownership' of that particular mobile number will return to the company that originally issued it. To have a chance of getting the original number back, customers will have too approach their old mobile telecoms provider, rather than the later one.
The benefits for business
Despite the inevitable issues surrounding logistics of the implementation, Thai lawyers see several positives for mobile operators in the switch to Mobile Number Portability. One of the major ones is greater profit potential - companies that offer good customer service and competitive rates will now have a much greater pool of subscribers to target their advertising at. The Thai laws also help improve Thailand's image as a modern nation - many South East Asian nations adopted portability laws up to 12 years ago.
Since the start of November 2009, portability has been enabled for all Thai mobile phone users. While mobile phone companies are concerned about the infrastructure holding up and the network upgrades that may be needed, consumers are relieved that they finally have the opportunity to choose a provider based on merit, rather than being stuck with the carrier that owns their phone number. Thai legal services today examine the impact that mobile number portability has had on the consumer landscape and on corporate legal compliance.
The Mobile Number Portability Thai laws
From a consumer point of view, this Thai law is simple - it means that all mobile phone operators must make it possible for consumers to switch providers while keeping their old number. Thai legal services see the main objective of the law as ensuring competition in the marketplace through removing the practical constraints to consumer choice in the service they use.
For communications companies, the new Thai law means:
They must collaborate to develop an implementation strategy and also create a consortium for the new regulations.
The porting process must be completed within three business days, counted from the date of the application. Thai legal services have so far handled a couple of consumer complaints about speed of porting service from mobile phone companies.
Operators are responsible for checking whether the number was legally acquired, subject to any national security issues, or subject to any legal procedures or lawful orders. Thai corporate legal services have been working closely on the implementation of this part of the law with operators, which can be administratively tricky.
One particular issue that consumers should be aware of is that if they terminate the service after the porting has occurred, the 'ownership' of that particular mobile number will return to the company that originally issued it. To have a chance of getting the original number back, customers will have too approach their old mobile telecoms provider, rather than the later one.
The benefits for business
Despite the inevitable issues surrounding logistics of the implementation, Thai lawyers see several positives for mobile operators in the switch to Mobile Number Portability. One of the major ones is greater profit potential - companies that offer good customer service and competitive rates will now have a much greater pool of subscribers to target their advertising at. The Thai laws also help improve Thailand's image as a modern nation - many South East Asian nations adopted portability laws up to 12 years ago.