Question raised over NBTC telecom commissioner's exclusive focus on AIS and TRUE’s concerns.

The recent statements by Mr. Sompop Purivigraipong, the commissioner for telecommunications at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in Thailand, raise concerns about regulatory impartiality in Thailand’s telecom industry.

In response to comments from the (only) two mobile operators in the country - Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Corporation, regarding the starting price for the upcoming spectrum auction, Somphop acknowledged that he personally agreed with them, that the price might be to high. However, what stands out is the complete lack of response to the other concerns raised by other stakeholders and the public during the public hearing.AIS and TRUE, the two dominant players in Thailand’s telecom sector, have argued that the starting prices for the upcoming auction, covering six frequency bands, are too high and do not reflect current economic conditions.

Somphop echoed their concerns, stating that he personally believes the prices may indeed be excessive. However, he was quick to note that any decision would ultimately rest with the NBTC board, which he himself is a member of, along with six other commissionaires.

While the telecom commissioner readily addressed AIS and TRUE’s complaints in the article, there was a glaring omission in his response: no mention of the issues raised by other participants in the public hearing, including network access to mobile virtual network aggregators (MVNA) and operators (MVNO), the opposition against the proposed “Thailand Independent Market Operator (TIMO)” theory, the lack of NBTC enforcing its own regulation, and that holding a simultaneous multi-band auction risks solidifying the current stagnant market structure for another 15 years.MVNO SERVICES, a mobile virtual network aggregator and enabler (MVNA/MVNE) in Thailand, has publicly shared its comments on the auction/public hearing, focusing on unresolved market issues, and the controversial suggestion to introduce “Thailand Independent Market Operator (TIMO)” - a theory with an organization conducting forward and spot markets for wholesale communications.

The company strongly opposed TIMO, citing its unproven status in the telecom industry and its potential to introduce unnecessary delays and uncertainties. Furthermore, MVNO Services highlighted pressing issues that mobile operators and the NBTC has neglected, such as:

• Failure to Enforce Merger Conditions: More than 720 days after the TRUE/DTAC merger, key regulatory conditions—such as capacity allocation for MVNA/MVNOs, retail price reductions, and service quality assurances—remain unenforced.
• Lack of MVNA/MVNO Promotion: NBTC has repeatedly emphasized the importance of MVNOs but has failed to implement concrete measures to support their growth.
• Unclear Wholesale Pricing Frameworks: The lack of transparent, up-to-date, and fair wholesale pricing mechanisms continues to restrict competition.
• Market Entrant Barriers: Without measures to encourage new entrants, the upcoming spectrum auction risks entrenching the duopoly of AIS and TRUE for another 15 years.

Among question and comments regarding competition and enforcing regulation, Thailand Consumers Council (TCC), also raised the following questions and comments regarding TIMO at the public hearing:

“This is the first time we have heard of TIMO. Has a draft announcement about TIMO been issued yet?”

“If TIMO really happens, what is the NBTC’s approach to supervising, monitoring and inspecting TIMO?”

Ativat Asvasirayothin, Founder and CEO of the MVNO A-Telecom, had the following comment:

“A-Telecom believe that the enforcement of existing regulations would be a more efficient and effective way to cultivate a successful MVNO ecosystem, and A-Telecom respectfully request the NBTC to consider this approach”.

The CEO of the MVNO Redone, Atip Keeratipish:

“I would like the NBTC to consider raising the MNO capacity level to MVNOs from 10% to maybe 20% to promote MVNO as well, as the winners of the auction will have the spectrum for 15 years. Because if it is limited to 10%, it may be a bit too little for the NBTC's policy to promote MVNO.”

“Regarding TIMO, I have the same opinion as everyone else that TIMO is new, but I would like to thank the NBTC team for trying to get a new idea to promote MVNO. However, I understand that there are many things to discuss in detail, such as the purchase price, management, and setting up of this organization. But the point is, if it this is actually going to happen? I would like it to promote the competition of MVNO and not create an undue burden for MVNOs, because the cost is important in managing MVNO to survive.”If NBTC proceeds with its multi-band auction without addressing these broader concerns, the outcome will solidify the dominance of AIS and TRUE, limiting competition and innovation in the Thai telecom market. The failure to enforce existing regulations and promote MVNOs for more than a decade undermines consumer choice and stifles market dynamism.

A more balanced approach is needed—one where all stakeholders, not just the largest players, have their voices heard. If NBTC wishes to foster a competitive and fair telecom industry, it must take a more impartial stance, enforce its own existing regulations, and ensure that the upcoming auction creates opportunities for all market participants, not just the incumbents.