Thailand's Consumer Council is urging the PM to prioritize MVNOs

Thailand's Consumer Council has submitted a letter to Prime Minister Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressing concerns regarding the upcoming spectrum auction and its potential repercussions on public services and market competition.

The council urge the government to establish measures to mitigate these impacts and ensure fair practices, including controlling service prices and paving the way mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) to preserve consumer rights in a telecommunications market dominated by only two major players; AIS and True Corporation

The Consumer Council fears that the auction of frequency bands, specifically those expiring in 2025 belonging to National Telecom Public Company Limited (NTPLC or NT) – without proper safeguards would destabilize the communication system, affecting critical public services.

Ms. Supinya Klangnarong, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the Consumer Council, stated that including NT's spectrum in the auction without reserving it for governmental missions or public services could severely compromise communication security during crises, especially for vulnerable populations and those in remote areas who rely on NT's network.

Furthermore, the Consumer Council voiced concerns that simultaneously auctioning multiple spectrum bands could lead to unbalanced competition in the already concentrated telecommunications market, potentially fostering monopolies and harming consumer interests.

To address these structural issues and promote a fair approach, the Consumer Council has proposed that the Prime Minister instruct the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (Thailand) (DE), as the head of the regulatory body, to urgently coordinate with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and other relevant agencies to implement four key measures:

1. Set a ceiling price for service fees: This should consider the quantity and quality of service, incl. the service conditions of MVNOs as part of the auction competition terms.
2. Clear conditions should be set allowing NT, MVNOs, and other relevant parties to jointly utilize licensed frequencies at fair rates, with specific implementation timelines and penalties for non-compliance.
3. Hold a consultative meeting: The DE Ministry should convene a meeting with consumer representatives, the NBTC, NT, mobile phone service providers, and MVNOs to develop a plan to address the impact on consumers resulting from the expiration of NT's contracts.
4. Support NT's continued use of spectrum for public services: The DE Ministry should find ways to support NT in continuously using NBTC frequencies for public services related to national security and public safety, including as a channel for emergency and disaster warnings, without additional costs to consumers.