Thailand NBTC Consults on New Rules for Allocating Radiocommunication Frequencies

Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is updating the rules for how it allocates frequencies for what Thai law calls "radiocommunication services". These are non-commercial users such as government agencies, security services and other public bodies. The draft would replace the current rules, which date back to 2017.

Comments are open from 14 September to 16 October 2026.

What's in the draft

The draft sets out 11 purposes an organisation can request frequencies for. These include state security, public services, an agency's own operations, research and testing, special events, joint military exercises, and emergencies and disasters. State security requests continue to follow their own separate process under an existing NBTC notification.

Some of the more notable changes:

• A new emergency and disaster chapter. Frequencies can be allocated for up to 30 days, and radio equipment brought in for these missions is exempt from import and possession licences during that period (it has to be reported afterwards).
• A clear list of exempt uses, including equipment approved for general use, fixed links in the 71–76 and 81–86 GHz bands, experimental use and amateur radio.
• Revised rules on renewals, expiry and cancellation, plus a 5,000 baht application fee.

The link to equipment certification

This is the part that matters most for manufacturers. Under the draft, applicants must show that the equipment they plan to use complies with NBTC's technical standards and certification rules. In other words, even for government and public-sector projects, the radio gear has to be properly certified. If you supply radios, links or other equipment for these kinds of projects in Thailand, make sure your products have NBTC certification in place.

How to respond

NBTC accepts comments by email (saraban_2409@nbtc.go.th), by registered post, or in person at its Radiocommunication Licensing Bureau. The drafts are published in Thai only.

We help manufacturers get their equipment certified for the Thai market. See our Thailand NBTC type approval guide.

Sources: NBTC public hearing page (Thai), NBTC public hearings list.