Thailand's bid for high-speed Internet stalled

Thailand's bid to catch up with neighboring countries on advanced telecommunications technology has stalled after a court ruled to suspend a bidding process for 3G licenses. The ruling means more delays for bringing the fastest Internet technology to Thailand, which is one of the only countries in Southeast Asia without third-generation capabilities.

Poorer neighbors such as Cambodia and Laos already have 3G, which allows faster upload and download speeds. The Supreme Administrative Court upheld a lower court's injunction against a much-awaited 3G mobile license auction organized by the National Telecommunications Commission, saying the agency did not have the authority to put the licenses up for bidding. The court also dismissed an argument from the commission, which said the absence of 3G network would hinder the performance of state agencies and other public service providers. The auction must now wait until the Constitutional Court determines if the National Telecommunications Commission has the authority to hold the sale - or until Parliament moves to set up a new regulator.