IT experts roundly agree that the government's single gateway concept will increase costs, do little to improve national security and undermine efforts to transform Thailand into a digital economy.
The government recently floated the idea of consolidating all international internet links through a single gateway, to be managed by the state. Authorities say the concept, while admittedly increasing the ability of the state to monitor and control internet traffic, is actually aimed at helping to reduce costs by increasing the bargaining power with telecom operators.
But experts question how a return to a state-controlled monopoly could possibly result in better services and lower costs.
Poramate Minsiri, the founder of popular websites Sanook.com and Kapook.com, said the single gateway would put Thailand back where it was two decades ago, when stateowned CAT Telecom managed all international internet gateways for the country.
"Back then, the internet was slow and expensive compared with neighbouring countries," he said. "If the country goes back to having a single gateway, with no free competition, how can we benefit in terms of lower prices and higher-speed internet?"
A recent report in Naew Na said the single gateway, an idea started under former deputy premier MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, would see the government invest 16 billion baht in the project. All internet service providers (ISPs) would be asked to use the new gateway, with the goal of breaking even within five years.
Mr Poramate wondered whether the concept was aimed not only at tightening government control over the internet, but also generating a new growth engine for the two telecom state enterprises, CAT Telecom and TOT, both of which have seen their business models suffer with the loss of concession revenue from the liberalisation of the mobile phone market.