NBTC Holds Public Hearing on Draft Radar Frequency Announcement
Thailand's telecom regulator held a public hearing on draft radar frequency regulations to accommodate expanding civilian uses including vehicle safety systems, drones, and smart building sensors across newly allocated frequency bands.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) held a public hearing on five draft announcements concerning radar system frequency bands to enhance public quality of life and safety. On May 25, 2026, Air Vice Marshal Thanaphan Railcharoen, chairman of the NBTC's Frequency and Technical Standards Subcommittee, presided over the public hearing on May 20, 2026 at the NBTC headquarters to receive input from stakeholders and the public regarding five draft NBTC announcements related to radar communication frequency use and associated technical standards.
Air Vice Marshal Thanaphan explained that radar systems historically originated as military technology for detecting aircraft and objects. The technology has since been adapted for civilian applications, prompting the NBTC to issue regulations governing radar frequency use in vehicles, traffic systems, drones, and general sensors. However, current applications have expanded significantly to include in-cabin monitoring systems, rail transport systems, intelligent building sensors, and industrial radar systems. Consequently, the NBTC authorized additional frequency bands of 57-64 GHz and expanded transmission power for the 24.05-24.25 GHz band for radar systems.
This has led to the revision and development of five draft NBTC announcements:
1. Three announcements concerning radar communication systems: 1) Guidelines for radar communication frequency use and equipment permitted for general use 2) Technical standards for telecommunications equipment for radar communication systems without application restrictions 3) Technical standards for telecommunications equipment for radar systems in traffic and land transport
2. Two announcements concerning general-use telecommunications equipment: 4) Guidelines for frequency use and telecommunications equipment permitted for general use (Version 2) 5) Technical standards for telecommunications equipment for general-use radar systems in the 57-64 GHz band
Air Vice Marshal Thanaphan stated that modern radar technology improves public convenience and safety, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era emphasizing contactless interaction through intelligent sensors. Radar development enhances travel safety through obstacle detection and accident prevention, in-cabin safety monitoring, fatigue detection, and child safety alerts. Applications extend to household devices for convenience and industrial use for measuring height and speed. Advanced radar technology's precision—enabling detection of finger movements—combined with its durability and weather resistance compared to cameras and lasers, makes it superior for various applications. Therefore, the NBTC is expediting updates to frequency bands and related standards to keep pace with technological advancement and maximize benefits.
