Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has given conditional clearance for the proposed merger of the country’s second and third largest mobile netwok operators (MNOs), True Corporation and Total Access Communication (DTAC). According to Reuters the conditions imposed on the tie-up include a price ceiling and price controls, as well as a requirement for independent verification of cost structure and service fee for at least five years. In addition, service rates such as voice, data, messaging must be shown separately and based on average cost pricing, the report noted.
According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, in November 2021 True Corp and DTAC agreed to merge their operations as they seek to topple Advanced Info Service (AIS) and create a new market leader. Thai agribusiness conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group controls True Corp, while Norwegian telco Telenor is DTAC’s largest shareholder. When completed, the enlarged MNO is likely to be worth an estimated USD8.6 billion.