Bangkok: The Consumer Council is urging solutions to the problem of untidy communication cables, after a cumulative total of 1,177 complaints were received. They point out that this poses a threat to public life and property. They are proposing the establishment of a provincial-level management committee and the allocation of funds to remove old cables.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Itboon Onwongsa, Deputy Secretary-General of the Consumer Council, stated at the forum “Opening the Report – Finding a Solution: Turning the Crisis of Unsafe Communication Cables into Practical Consumer Protection,” that the problem of tangled communication cables strung on utility poles in communities nationwide is a silent threat that poses a risk to life and property. The Consumer Council has been continuously receiving complaints. A review of the situation in several areas, including the North, Northeast, and Western regions, such as Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, revealed injuries from falling or stranded communication cables, compromising road safety. The complaints were also submitted to the Consumer Council. The Cabinet resolution of November 13, 2021, assigned the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), te
lecommunications operators, and other relevant agencies to develop an integrated plan to organize communication cables on utility poles along major routes in Bangkok and other provinces. However, the resolution remains incomplete and has been delayed.
Mr. Laphis Rerkdee, Head of the Northern Region Office of the Consumer Council, stated that the problem of communication cables is not only a mess, but also a recurring problem. Fires have occurred at power poles due to tangled cables, a motorcyclist was seriously injured by cables, and several riders have lost income due to injuries from accidents caused by low-hanging cables. A total of 1,177 complaints have been filed, revealing delays in resolution, with some cases taking as long as 101 days. This has led to repeated accidents, such as those in Phayao, Nan, Lampang, and most recently in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
A survey of 2,199 consumers revealed that 71.7% had experienced problems with messy communication cables, while over 92% believed it was a major cause of serious accidents. Eighty percent believed the NBTC should be the primary agency responsible for addressing the issue. The Consumer Council therefore proposed a systematic approach to addressing the problem, including establishing a provincial communication cable management committee with consumer oversight; allocating a budget of 10 kilometers per year to cut and relocate unused cables; promoting a single last-mile system to reduce duplication among service providers; and establishing a compensation fund for victims, deducting 15-20% of cable laying fees.
The Consumer Council also called on the NBTC to amend its announcement regulations, empower regional offices to issue immediate corrections, and involve local administrative organizations in managing risky communication lines in their areas.