Another NBTC MVNO Focus Group, raising skepticism amidst repeated consultations with zero results.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in Thailand has announced yet another focus group meeting with Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), prompting skepticism from MVNOs and investors who cite a history of unfulfilled promises.

This latest initiative, aimed at gathering input for the revision of the NBTC’s draft announcement on MVNO services, follows a pattern of repeated consultations that have yielded ZERO outcome over the years.

While the NBTC emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and comprehensive feedback, the announcement is met with weariness. This marks the fifth or sixth instance of such a focus group, and MVNO operators express frustration over the lack of concrete action following previous discussions.

The core concern is that these meetings are becoming performative, with valuable feedback consistently failing to translate into meaningful regulatory changes.The meeting agenda will, once more, encompass a range of issues affecting MVNOs, including:

• Licensing and Service Models: Exploration of full MVNO models and their feasibility.
• Negotiation, Contract Agreements, and Compliance: Addressing challenges related to agreements with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and regulatory compliance.
• MVNO Wholesale Service Costs: Examining the pricing structures for wholesale network access.
• Regulatory Fees: Reviewing telecommunications license and numbering fee structures.
• MVNO Service Promotion and Regulatory Measures:
  
  • Assessing the feasibility of specific promotional strategies.
  • Exploring the potential for designating specific user segments for MVNO services.
  • Evaluating the implementation of the Thailand Independent Market Operator (TIMO) model.
  
  
• Other Relevant Issues: Open discussion on any additional concerns raised by MVNO operators.

• Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
• Time: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
• Location: Meeting Room 5021, 2nd Floor, The Auditorium Building at NBTC Office, Soi Sailom.

The stated objectives of this focus group meeting are:

• To collect valuable feedback and suggestions from MVNA and MVNO operators regarding the challenges and opportunities within the MVNO market.
• To utilize this gathered information to refine and revise the NBTC’s draft announcement on MVNO services, ensuring a more effective and supportive regulatory environment.

However, the industry remains unconvinced. The repeated nature of these consultations, without corresponding regulatory action, raises serious doubts about the NBTC’s genuine commitment to addressing the MVNO sector’s concerns.

The MVNO operators are getting less and less and those remaining are now looking for concrete results, and not just another round of discussion.