JUDGE BELIEVES TOT'S CASE AGAINST NTC SHOULD BE DISMISSED, SAYS SOURCE

       The Central Administrative Court judge overseeing the TOT complaint against the national telecom regulator for violating the Telecom Act believes the case should be dismissed.
       A source yesterday said the judge felt the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) had complied with its regulations in ordering TOT to integrate - or "translate" - all of the new phone numbers of other networks into its network system.
       The judge yesterday read his opinion on the case to a quorum of judges, TOT, all six NTC members, NTC secretary-general Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn and representatives of True Move and Total Access Communication (DTAC).
       The NTC members are the first defendants, Suranan is the second defendant and True Move and DTAC are the third defendants.
       Court procedure dictates the judge overseeing a case will read his opinion to a quorum of judges considering the case. They will deliver a verdict later, which can either uphold or differ from the opinion of the judge overseeing the case.
       The source said the court would deliver its verdict in the case on October 9.
       A telecom company needs all other operators to integrate, or "translate", its new numbers into their switching systems, so that the numbers are recognised by the other networks.
       The dispute began in January 2007, when DTAC asked the Central Administrative Court to issue an injunction against TOT because it refused to integrate each of the 1.5 million new phone numbers from DTAC - and True Move - into its network.
       TOT's refusal to register the new numbers means calls from TOT's telephones cannot reach the new numbers belonging to DTAC and True Move.
       The court later issued an injunction ordering TOT to connect its subscribers to DTAC's new phone users, in order to avoid problems for consumers. That ruling remains in effect until the case has been completely investigated or the court decides otherwise.
       At the same time, the NTC also ordered TOT to translate the new numbers into the state agency's system, prompting TOT to accuse the NTC of violating the Telecom Act.
       TOT said while the law required telecom licensees to allow other licensees access to their networks, TOT did not regard DTAC and True Move as NTC licensees.