Duties and Policy

The NTC is the first independent state telecommunications regulator.  Its duties and responsibilities are to regulate all telecommunications services in the country through formulating a Master Plan on Telecommunications Activities, setting criteria and categories of telecommunications services, permitting and regulating the use of spectrum for telecommunications services, and granting licenses to the telecommunications operators.

At the outset, the NTC started mapping out its action plan which is aimed at regulating and promoting telecommunications services in the country on a free and fair basis.  The action plan focuses on creating transparency and non-discrimination in telecommunications services, enhancing public participation, balancing and making the best use of telecommunications resources, building telecommunications technology to support sustainable growth of domestic telecommunications industry.  The following 11 important policies were formulated by the NTC as a guideline for governing telecommunications services in the country.

1. Frequency Management: Allocate fair distribution and efficient use of frequency for the ultimate benefit of the citizen and the country.
2. Competition: Support market mechanisms to generate fair competition in telecommunications market and relevant industry.
3. Licensing: Grant licenses to promote free and fair competition and to prevent anti-competitive conduct.
4. Internet: Promote widespread Internet provision with the lowest charge or license fee exemption.
5. Licensing and Enforcement: Regulate telecommunications business operation on a fair competitive basis to ensure that service charges can compete with those at a regional level; and that the services are of good quality.
6. Interconnection: Establish rules for interconnection charge on a fair cost-based basis.
7. Telecommunication Numbering: Allocate efficient and adequate telecommunications numbers for network expansion and assign special number for public actives, national security and emergency.
8. Universal Service Access: Strive for equal and universal service access throughout the country.
9. Industry Promotion: Promote competitiveness of telecommunication industry at national and international levels by supporting research and development, and telecommunications equipment manufacturing.
10. Consumer Protection: Set measures that allow consumers to have choices of telecommunications services with standard quality and fair price.
11. Human Resource Development: Promote human resource development for NTC staff.

1. To set policy and formulate Master Plan on Telecommunications Development.
2. To set criteria and categories of telecommunications services.
3. To permit and regulate the use of spectrum for telecommunications services.
4. To grant license for and regulate telecommunication services.
5. To set telecommunications licensing requirements and procedures.
6. To set standards and required technical specifications.
7. To set interconnection principles and process.
8. To formulate telecommunications tariff structure and services.
9. To formulate and manage a numbering plan.
10. To formulate criteria on consumer protection.
11. To formulate measures to assure individual privacy and freedom in communication.
12. To formulate criteria for protection and the right to provide telecommunications services.
13. To formulate measures to prevent monopolization or unfair competition.
14. To formulate measures to promote fair and free competition.
15. To promote telecommunications and IT training and human resources development.
16. To promote research and development in telecommunications, IT, telecommunications industry and related industries.
17. To set rules on the establishment of NTC, personnel management, budget, finance and asset and other NTC’s activities.
18. To approve NTC’s expenses including fund to be set aside under Section 51.
19. To submit its annual reports to the Cabinet, the House of representatives and the Senate and make them widely known to public.
20. To give advices to the government on telecommunications services both on national and international levels.
21. To perform other acts as provided by law.