GSOMC Board Challenges Acting Secretary's Stance on ITU Conference Representation and Flood Relief Measures

Key summary

Air Marshal Thanaphon Horaycharoen, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has clarified that a special meeting of all six board members held on October 21, 2026, unanimously approved motions to send a Thai delegation to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, Qatar, from November 9-27, 2026. The board also mandated mobile operators to extend payment deadlines and data usage for flood victims. Acting Secretary Trirat Wiriwongsirikul has contested the legality of this special meeting, arguing it lacks clear legal proof and could render decisions invalid. The board's decision replaces Dr. Saran Boonbai-chaiyaphruk with Police General Nattathorn Paesunsun as the head of the Thai delegation, citing that Dr. Saran is no longer in a position to serve. The NBTC emphasized that ignoring these resolutions risks damaging Thailand's international standing and hindering urgent flood relief efforts.