Practical Information |
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Registration:
Sunday 09 March 2008: 14:00 - 19:00
Monday 10 March 2008: 07:30 -18:00
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Practical Information
INTRODUCTION
The 8th Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) will be organized by the
Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) of International Telecommunication
Union (ITU), in collaboration with the National Telecommunications Commission,
Thailand from 11 – 13 March 2008.
The Symposium will be preceded by the Global
Industry Leaders Forum on 10 March 2008.
VENUE: Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH)
Royal Cliff Beach Resort
Pattaya City, Chonburi, Thailand
 Pattaya is located on the East coast of the Gulf of Thailand, in the province
of Chonburi about 165 km (102.54 miles) Southeast of Bangkok, 140 km (87.01
miles) from Suvarnabhumi International Airport or only 1.30 hours drive. It is
one of the largest centers of tourism in Thailand. The city also offers many
luxury hotels, beautiful beaches, friendly people, excellent shopping, places
with reasonable prices and a wide variety of nearby tourist attractions. Pattaya
offers variety of activities both on land and water which include some of the
finest golfing, game fishing and scuba diving. There are also theme and
amusement park, offbeat museums and lush botanical gardens.
WORKING LANGUAGES
The Global Industry Leaders Forum and the Global Symposium for Regulators will
be conducted in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese and Thai.
REGISTRATION
Participants registration for the meetings will open at Pattaya Exhibition and
Convention Hall (PEACH) on 9 March 2008 from 14:00 hours to 19:00 and 10-13
March from 07:30 hours to 18:00 hours. However, all participants are required to
pre-register by sending the registration form to fax +41 22 730 6210 or by email
to GSR08@itu.int for the GSR meeting and to fax +41 22 730 5484 or by email to
GILF08@itu.int for the GILF meeting.
There is no registration fee for both meetings.
CONTACT
Any inquiries relating the events, please contact:
The 8th GSR Organizing Committee
Tel. (66 2) 272 7054 / 272 6888
Fax (66 2) 278 1736 / 271 3512
E-mail: inter_org@ntc.or.th
WORKING HOURS
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The Global Industry Leaders Forum: the opening ceremony will take place on
Monday 10 March 2008 at 09:00 hours, and the working hours will be from 09:00
hours to 12:00 hours and from 14:00 hours to 17:00 hours. Registration on site
will start at 10:00 on Sunday 9 March 2008. Depending on extrabudgetary
resources (sponsorship) a networking session/Cocktail party is considered by
Sunday 9 March at 18:00.
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The 8th Global symposium for Regulators: the opening ceremony will take place
on Tuesday 11 March 2008 at 09:00 hours, and the working hours will be from
09:00 hours to 12:00 hours and from 14:00 hours to 17:00 hours.
TRANSPORTATION
Travel to Pattaya:
Alternatively, participants may take a limousine or a public taxi to Pattaya.
The participants are advised to contact the Information Desk at the Airport for
assistance.
HOTELS
Six hotels are recommended by the Host Organization.
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Online reservation system (The meetings will be held during a busy vacation season in Thailand, thus the
participants are advised to make the reservation early. Hotel rooms will be
assigned on a first-come-first-served basis).
- In order to guarantee your reservation, your credit card information is
necessary for a deposit equivalent to one night. Total amount of the hotel fee
will be charged directly by the hotel when checking out.
- Any changes or cancellations regarding room reservation should be sent
by email to the 8th GSR Organizing Committee or
by fax number + 66 2
278 1736 /2 271 3512.
- See below the List of Official Hotels and room rate. The booking must be
done on-line. However, at the first stage, the booking form can be sent to the
8th GSR Organizing Committee or fax number
+ 66 2
278 1736 / 271 3512.
- The Organizing Committee has blocked a number of hotel rooms with prearranged
rates, inclusive of buffet American Breakfast and taxes, at the following
hotels.
Royal Cliff Beach Resort (*****)
Situated between Jomtien and Pattaya (Thailand) in a 64-acre lush
tropical private estate overlooking the turquoise waters of the Gulf
of Siam, the beautiful award-winning resort offers a choice of four
5-Star hotels each with its own distinct style and ambience: from
cheerful and vibrant to secluded and tranquil, from refined and
elegant to exclusive and luxurious. Royal Cliff Beach and Resort is
connecting to PEACH.
Sheraton Pattaya Resort (*****)
More like a private country club than a typical holiday resort, the Sheraton
Pattaya Resort combines high standards of service with the warmth of Thai
hospitality. Nestled in picturesque cliff headlands south of Pattaya, 3 minutes
by shuttle bus to PEACH.
Hard Rock Hotel (****)
Overlooking the eastern shores of the Gulf of Thailand, Hard Rock Hotel
Pattaya is a jewel in the heart of the city with its internationally famed
image, bringing a unique style and first class entertainment to town. It takes
10 – 15 minutes to PEACH by shuttle bus.
A-One Hotel (****)
The A-One Pattaya Beach Hotel has Private Terraces & Shower + Bath Tub,
Karaoke, Pub, Restaurant and Pool Side Area with International BBQ Dinner and
Seafood BBQ Dinner. Welcome aboard to the paradise ship, where gentle waves meet
unique cruise design. The hotel faces the fascinating sea view of Pattaya beach
front promenade in North Pattaya Beach. Fully facilities and complete
entertainments are exclusively provided for you at the place where anything is
possible. It takes 10 – 15 minutes to PEACH by shuttle bus.
Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa (****)
Relax, unwind and rejuvenate are the first words that come to mind when
visiting this perfect picturesque resort that sits on the southern tip of
Pattaya Bay between Walking Street and Bali Hai pier. An oasis of tranquility
nestled amid the buzz of Pattaya’s exuberant nightlife, enjoy the freedom of a
quiet escape and the chance to explore all Pattaya has to offer. It takes 3
minutes to PEACH by shuttle bus.
Mountain Beach (***)
Three minutes to PEACH by shuttle bus, the disparately luxurious modernized
hotel offers an extravagant panoramic scene of the sea along with superb cuisine
and great leisure facilities.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Immigration
Thailand welcomes citizens of all countries. Citizens of 39 countries and Hong
Kong SAR are granted permission to stay for one month automatically. Those of 14
countries can apply for “Visa on Arrival” at the Immigration Hall. For citizens
of countries not covered by the above, Visas can be obtained from the nearest
Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate.
Tourist Visa Exemption
All visitors entering Thailand are required to possess a valid passport and to
obtain appropriate entry visa from the nearest Thai Embassy or Consulate before
entering Thailand.
Passport holders from the following 39 countries and Hong Kong SAR do not
require a visa when entering Thailand : Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, The
Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland,
United States of America, Vietnam
Passport holders from 14 countries may apply for visas at the immigration
Checkpoints :
Bhutan, People Republic of China (including Taiwan), Cyprus, Czech, Hungary,
India, Kazakhstan,
Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Poland, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine
For more information regarding visa requirements please contact the nearest
Thai Embassy or
Consulate.
Currency & Exchange
The Thai currency unit is Baht (indicated THB). Bank notes are 1,000, 500, 100,
50, 20 bills and coin denominations are 10, 5, 2, 1, 50 satang, 25 satang. One
US dollar is about 33 THB as of September 2007. Money can be exchanged at
International Airport, banks, and hotels.
Climate
Thailand is tropical and humid, with three seasons – hot from March to May,
rainy from June to October (although it’s usually sunny most of the day) and
cool from November to February. The average temperature in March is 30~35°C
(86~95°F). For more detailed climate information, please contact the
Meteorological Department.
Electricity
The standard supply is 220 volts, 50 Hz. Outlets for 220 volts are available at
the hotels.
The three following outlets are compatible with those available in Thailand.
Type A. (used in, among others, North and Central America and Japan)
This class II ungrounded plug with two flat parallel prongs is pretty much
standard in most of North and Central America. At first glance, the Japanese
plug and socket seem to be identical to this standard. However, the Japanese
plug has two identical flat prongs, whereas the US plug has one prong which is
slightly larger. Therefore it is no problem to use Japanese plugs in the US, but
the opposite does not work often. Furthermore, Japanese standard wire sizes and
the resulting current ratings are different than those used on the American
continent.
Type A and B plugs have two flat prongs with a hole near the tip. These holes
aren't there without a reason. If you were to take apart a type A or B socket
and look at the contact wipers that the prongs slide into, you would find that
in some cases they have bumps on them. These bumps fit into the holes so that
the outlet can grip the plug’s prongs more firmly. This prevents the plug from
slipping out of the socket due to the weight of the plug and cord. It also
improves the contact between the plug and the outlet. Some sockets, however,
don't have those bumps but just two spring-action blades that grip the sides of
the plug pin, in which case the holes aren't necessary.
There are also some special outlets which allow you to lock the cord into the
socket, by putting rods through the holes. This way, for example vending
machines cannot be unplugged. Moreover, electrical devices can be
"factory-sealed" by the manufacturer using a plastic tie or a small padlock
through one or both of the plug prong holes. For example, a manufacturer might
apply a plastic band through the hole and attach it to a tag that says: "You
must do X or Y before plugging in this device". The user cannot plug in the
device without removing the tag, so the user is sure to see the tag.
Type B. (used in, among others, North and Central America and Japan)
This is a class I plug with two flat parallel prongs and a grounding pin
(American standard NEMA 5-15/Canadian standard CS22.2, n°42). It is rated at 15
amps and although this plug is also standard in Japan, it is less frequently
used than in North America. Consequently, most appliances sold in Japan use a
class II ungrounded plug. As is the case with the type A standard, the Japanese
type B plugs and sockets are slightly different from their American
counterparts.
An ungrounded version of the North American NEMA 5-15 plug is commonly used in
Central America and parts of South America. It is therefore common for equipment
users to simply cut off the grounding pin that the plug can be mated with a
two-pole ungrounded socket.
Type C. (used in all countries of Europe except the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Cyprus and Malta).
This two-wire plug is ungrounded and has two round prongs. It is popularly
known as the europlug which is described in CEE 7/16. This is probably the
single most widely used international plug. It will mate with any socket that
accepts 4.0-4.8 mm round contacts on 19 mm centres. The plug is generally
limited for use in class II applications that require 2.5 amps or less. It is,
of course, unpolarised. It is commonly used in all countries of Europe except
the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is also used in various parts of the
developing world. Whereas type C plugs are very commonly used, this is not the
case for type C sockets. This kind of socket is the older and ungrounded variant
of socket types E, F, J, K and L. Nowadays most countries demand grounded
sockets to be installed in new buildings. Since type C sockets are ungrounded,
they are currently being phased out in many countries and replaced by type E, F,
J, K or L (depending on the country). A type C plug fits perfectly into a type
E, F, J, K or L socket.
Emergencies
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Police 191 |
Fire 195 |
| Medical Emergencies 1554 |
Tourist Police 1155
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Medical Service
A Medical Service will be available on-site, with immediate transportation and
admission to a hospital for emergencies. You are reminded that it is advised to
obtain travel insurance for your mission to Thailand. Insurance should cover
payment for your medical care in the case of hospitalization as well as of
repatriation to your home country if that should become necessary.
Security Measure
Participants are required to wear their identifications/badges at all time in
the meeting venue.
Business Hours
Government offices are open from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8.30 and
16.30.
Most private businesses open at anywhere from 08.30 to 10.00 and close in the
evening.
Major departments stores are usually open from 10:30 to 20:00, including
Sundays, but smaller shops tend to be open earlier and close later every day of
the week.
Tipping
Tipping is not a traditional Thai custom. A 10% service charge is added to your
bill at all tourist hotels and 3-10% at some big restaurants.
Time Zone
Thailand is 7 hours ahead of GMT.
Communications
Among the Fixed Line Operators there are three major firms namely: TOT, TT&T and
True, while mobile operation is mainly done by Hutch, DTAC, AIS, True Move.
Although very expensive, there should be no problem for tourists bringing their
mobile phones to Thailand. A local call from a regular phone which will cost you
around 3 baht per minute, the same call on roaming from your mobile will cost
you 115 baht a minute. So it becomes economical to rely on the local
communication system in Thailand. The most preferred alternative is to hire or
purchase a - pay as you go phone - . AIS900, the main cellular phone company in
Thailand, also provides rental services through MOBILE FONERENT counters and
most large hotels. The International code for Thailand is - 001+country code
etc. - and the International country code of Thailand is – 66
Computer NetworkingEach meeting room will be equipped with wireless access
(Wireless LAN, supporting IEEE802.11b, 2.4GHz band) to the Internet. Those who
wish to use the wireless access must be equipped with the necessary hardware and
correctly configured PC.Laptop Internet connectivity
Access to the Internet will be available using the LAN technologies listed
below:
- Wired: Ethernet RJ45 10/100 Mbps
- Wireless IEEE 802.11a/b/g
To make the most efficient use of network resources, we strongly recommend the
following:
- Check to see if your laptop has WiFi capability. If it does not, purchase an
802.11a/b/g card and have it configured before you arrive.
- Ensure that your user account has administrative privileges. Should you
require help onsite, the Help desk staff will only be able to help you if you
have administrative rights on your laptop.
- You are kindly requested to test your WiFi connection well before the Opening
Session. The Help Desk staff will be there to help you if you require
assistance.
- Refrain from using peer-to-peer connections.
Please note that the installation and use of any other wireless access points
without prior authorization from the ITU/Host organizers is prohibited.
Wireless LAN configuration parameters
Please follow the installation instructions delivered with the card. You may
need to log in with administrator privileges depending on your PC’s operating
system and the card purchased.
The following parameters should be set in order to connect to the ITU wireless
network:
- Set the case-sensitive SSID as “GSR08”.
- Set WEP encryption to “Off”.
- Set Operation mode to “Infrastructure” (not Ad-Hoc or peer-to-peer). The
Ad-Hoc mode creates a lot of confusion not only for you but also for other
participants.
Network Connection settings
Enable DHCP so that your laptop will obtain the IP address and other network
parameters automatically
Security
Please be aware that delegate network communication can be intercepted,
end-to-end encryption is recommended for confidentiality.
If you are concerned about computer security, please use personal firewall
software. All wireless users must have a good anti-virus program that has
up-to-date virus database. Viruses can easily spread in the wireless network.
You may also need a few spyware detection programs.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
If you wish to sponsor a coffee break, lunch, dinner or cocktail reception,
please kindly contact the Organizing Committee at inter_org@ntc.or.th
Helpful Links and Website
mmigration Bureau http://www.imm.police.go.th
Tourism Authority of Thailand http://www.tat.or.th
or : http://www.tourismthailand .org
Embassy http://www.thaiembassy.org
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