Reporters stated that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board unanimously approved the draft Masterplan for Broadcasting and Television Operations (3rd edition) covering 2026–2030 with a 7-0 vote. This came after three hours of discussion during the board meeting on 19 June 2026 and an additional 2.5 hours on 22 June 2026 before reaching a consensus.
In the afternoon session, the board reviewed the Television and Audio-Visual Services Roadmap for 2026–2030 to prepare for the expiration of digital TV licenses in April 2029. However, the board did not approve it yet, due to unresolved issues regarding the approach to auctioning TV spectrum after current licenses expire—whether to auction to TV channels as before or to network providers (MUX) instead, since digital TV channels have shown no interest in bidding. Other concerns included plans to discontinue use of the C-Band spectrum (3700–4200 MHz) to allocate the 3500 MHz band for 5G and to adjust TV signal standards.
Dr. Sorana Boonbaichayapruk, NBTC chairman, stated that the NBTC office was instructed to develop detailed plans for auctioning digital TV licenses before current licenses expire. The new approach considers allowing network providers (MUX) to bid and then provide channels to TV operators. This requires careful legal review to determine feasibility. The MUX licenses expire in 2028, earlier than the digital TV channel licenses. If auctions proceed as before for interested digital TV channels, the planned auction year remains 2028. The board tasked the office to finalize details within 30 days.
Reporters noted that this masterplan had been one of the NBTC board's longest-running projects. Since Ms. Pirongrong Ramsut, an NBTC board member responsible for television affairs, took office in April 2022, she has actively pushed the masterplan. Besides outlining the transition after digital TV licenses expire in 2029, the plan also aims to establish a “National Digital Platform” to allow the public to access all Thai free-to-air TV channels via the internet without relying on global platforms or a few telecom providers.
The masterplan and roadmap development began with board approval to procure a study on broadcasting scenarios in 2023, leading to the inclusion of the masterplan on the agenda in January 2026 and its approval on 22 June 2026, spanning four years in total. The masterplan focuses on strategies for digital transformation, supporting viewing across multiple platforms—both terrestrial and online—and regulating OTT (Over-The-Top) services or internet-based TV. It emphasizes overseeing digital platforms providing audio-visual content to ensure fair competition with traditional platform operators.