Public Consultation: Thailand Draft Master Plan for Frequency Management (2026-2028)
The Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand has released a public consultation regarding the (Draft) NBTC Announcement on the Master Plan for Frequency Management (2026-2028). This update is intended to align Thailand’s national frequency management policy with the upcoming 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) and to reflect the current status of frequency usage in the country.
Proposed Changes to Regulations and Standards
The consultation covers several critical updates to the national framework for radio spectrum management:
Master Plan Timeframe: Revision of the Master Plan to cover the period 2026-2028.
National Frequency Allocation Table: Updates to the allocation table to support evolving technological needs and international synchronization.
Appendix A Revisions: Modification of permitted frequency bands for mobile and fixed services, including the introduction of new bands and technical parameters.
Appendix B Updates: Revised procedures and timelines for the recall and refarming of specific frequency bands to facilitate new service allocations.
Thailand Footnotes: Proposed changes and additions to specific Thailand footnotes (e.g., T-P6, T-P13, T-P14, and T-ITS), which govern specific usage conditions for various bands.
Impact on Permitted Radio Bands and Technical Parameters
Manufacturers and operators should note the following specific changes to frequency allocations:
New Allocations (Mobile/Fixed): Proposal to add 401 - 405.9 MHz, 406.2 - 410 MHz, and 430 - 450 MHz as newly permitted bands for specific services.
Revised Bands: Adjustment of technical parameters for the 6.43425 - 7.11125 GHz range.
Spectrum Refarming: Identification of the 1920 – 1965 / 2110 – 2155 MHz bands for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) refarming by 2027.
Specialized Services:
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): Usage of 5850 – 5925 MHz for ITS applications.
Railway Communications: Allocation of 1900 - 1910 MHz for the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS).
Private Networks: Updated licensing rules for IMT in private networks within the 1427–1518 MHz and 4.8–4.99 GHz ranges.
Potential Impact on Manufacturers
The proposed changes may require manufacturers of radio communication equipment to:
Review product portfolios to ensure compatibility with new frequency allocations in the 400 MHz and 6 GHz ranges.
Update technical documentation and testing procedures to align with revised Thailand footnotes and international WRC-27 standards.
Anticipate changes in type approval requirements for devices operating in refarmed bands or those intended for specialized applications like FRMCS and ITS.
Public Consultation and Feedback Deadlines
The NBTC is seeking feedback from all stakeholders, including manufacturers, industry associations, and type approval service companies.
Public Hearing Date: Friday, June 5, 2026 (Registration required by June 2, 2026).
Comment Submission Period: May 18, 2026, to July 6, 2026.
Submission Channels:
Google Forms (via NBTC website).
Email: saraban_2007@nbtc.go.th
Registered Mail to the NBTC Office (Frequency Management Division).
In-person submission at the NBTC Office in Bangkok.
