May 10, 2022 Signing of Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Broadcasting and Telecommunications Field with National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission of Thailand

Mr. TAKEUCHI Yoshiaki, Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) held talks with H.E. Mr. Trairat Viriyasirikul, Deputy Secretary General of Strategic and Internal Affairs Cluster Acting Secretary General of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand, on May 10, 2022, in Tokyo, and signed a memorandum of understanding on the cooperation in the broadcasting and telecommunications field between MIC and the NBTC.

1. Background

• 1.
  In April 2015, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, then Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, held talks with H.E. Mr. Thares Punsri, then Chairman of the NBTC upon her visit to Thailand. They issued a joint press statement on cooperation in the telecommunications and broadcasting field and announced mutual cooperation between Japan and Thailand.
• 2.
  Through the discussions following this joint press statement, MIC and the NBTC signed a memorandum of understanding on November 14, 2016, on cooperation in the broadcasting and telecommunications field.
• 3.
  Based on this MOU, the two countries have held discussions since 2021 to study an appropriate approach to bilateral cooperation for the new age that reflects the changes in the circumstances of the telecommunications and broadcasting field.
• 4.
  The two countries reached an agreement on cooperation in new areas of the broadcasting and telecommunications field. On May 10, 2022, taking the opportunity of H.E. Mr. Trairat's visit to Japan, Mr. Takeuchi held talks with him and they signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Japan and Thailand in the broadcasting and telecommunications field.

2. Outline of the MOU

MIC and the NBTC reached an agreement to promote cooperation in such fields as radio regulations and satellite and orbit regulations, cybersecurity, 5G and IoT, consumer protection, human resource development, broadcast content, and innovative broadcasting and communications technology and policy.

3. Future direction

Based on this MOU, MIC will further promote cooperation with the NBTC in the broadcasting and telecommunications field.