RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/NGBT/W/12/Add.29
22April 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-1514)
Original: English Negotiating Group onBasic Telecommunications
COMMUNICATION FROM THAILAND
Draft Offer onBasic Telecommunications
Thefollowing communication iscirculated attherequest ofThailand tomembers ofthe
Negotiating Group onBasic Telecommunications.
_______________
1. Tocontributetowardsthesuccessfulconclusionofthenegotiationsonbasictelecommunications,
Thailand hereby submits itsdraftconditional offer inthissector.
2. Thailand reserves therighttomodify, reduce orwithdraw thisoffer, inwhole orinpart,at
anytimeprior totheconclusion ofthenegotiations onbasic telecommunications.
3. Thailand alsoreserves therighttomake technical changes, amendment andcorrection tothis
offer.
4. Thedraftconditional offerofThailand maybesubject tochanges bythefinaldecision ofthe
Government consequent upontheimplementation oftheTelecommunication Development Planwhich
ispresently under review. ThePlanisaiming atliberalizing telecommunication business ofthecountry
subject tonational policy andlevelofeconomic development.
According tothesaidplan, theprocess fortheopening ofthecompetitive business shallbe
commenced within tenyears afterthenewCommunication Billshavebeenapproved bytheParliament.
5. Thisofferimposes certain restrictions asdescribed intheLimitations onMarket Access. It
isunderstood thattherestriction clauses willbegradually liberalized withthesame principles fora
period oftimeasaccepted intheprevious Value Added Service Commitments.
6. Thisdraft offer isalsocovered bythehorizontal section ofThailand Schedule ofSpecific
Commitments (GATS/SC/85, April 1994).S/NGBT/W/12/Add.29
Page2THAILAND -DRAFT OFFER
Modes ofsupply: 1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence ofnatural persons
Sector orsubsector Limitations onmarket access Limitations onnational treatment Additional commitments
2.c. Telecommunication
Services
2.c.a. Voice telephone
services
-local domestic
telephone services1)1.1 Unbound
1.2 Radio application service issubject to
frequency availability.
2) None
3)3.1 Local domestic telephone services
mean:
-calls within metropolitan area
-calls within thesame areacode1)None
2)None
3)Nolimitations aslongasforeign equity
participation does notexceed 20percent
3.2 Service providers maycollaborate with
national telecommunication authorities
under conditions thatsuch company:
a)must receive permission from the
Cabinet.
b)shall bepermitted under thebuild-
transfer operate concept bynational
telecommunication authorities.
c)shall beaThai registered company
withforeign equity participation not
exceeding 20percentofthe
registered capital andthenumber of
foreign shareholders must not
exceed 20percentofthetotal
number ofshareholders ofthe
company.S/NGBT/W/12/Add.29
Page3Modes ofsupply: 1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence ofnatural persons
Sector orsubsector Limitations onmarket access Limitations onnational treatment Additional commitments
d)must usepublic telecommunication
network permitted bynational
telecommunication authorities.
3.3 Selection ofservice providers shall be
based onopened tender
4)Unbound asindicated inthehorizontal
section ofThailand Schedule ofSpecific
Commitments (GATS/SC/85, April 1994).4)None