Space-telecom tech raises legal issues

Convergence poses regulatory concerns

- KOMSAN TORTERMVASANA

Thailand should urgently draw up a policy framework to govern the fast-blurring boundary between telecom and space activities as converging technologies could pose regulatory challenges for national interest in the future.

"Convergence poses complex legal challenges. If telecom and space activities become indistinguishable without corresponding amendments to primary and secondary legislation, Thailand may struggle to effectively regulate the communications system landscape," said AM Thanapant Raicharoen, commissioner of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), at an aviation and space legal policy seminar co-hosted by the NBTC, Thammasat University's Faculty of Law, and aviation and space agencies.

He said global tech giants are likely to gravitate towards jurisdictions or domains perceived as borderless or weakly regulated.

The impact could be more severe than the entry of over-the-top platforms, where telecom broadcasting technology convergence outpaces regulatory development, said AM Thanapant.