State-owned telco TOT is considering transforming its MVNO business model into a retail service in order to get around a provision in the new National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) Act, according to the Bangkok Post.
Earlier this…
State-owned telco TOT is considering transforming its MVNO business model into a retail service in order to get around a provision in the new National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) Act, according to the Bangkok Post.
Earlier this week, a new law aimed at creating an independent body in charge of 3G frequency allocation in Thailand has come into effect after receiving royal endorsement.
Once the NBTC is set up, the 3G spectrum auction is expected to start again, ending the long delay to the country’s licensing process.
But the Act notably stipulates that rights for bandwidth use are exclusive and cannot be transferred, which may pose a problem to MVNOs.
Five companies are already operating on TOT’s network, while several other cellcos are looking to establish similar partnerships, according to local reports. These include Advanced Info Service (AIS), which said it would soon provide commercial 3G services in partnership with TOT, and True Move.
But AIS has expressed concerns over the NBTC’s provision and asked the Council of State to clarify the matter, wrote the Bangkok Post.
