News Forum - Thailand News Today | Watchdog warns True-DTAC merger will increase mobile tariffs by 240%

[Thaiger]

In a controversial move, Thailand’s telecom regulator has approved the merging of two key mobile operators in Thailand: True and DTAC. A consumer watchdog says the five-member committee “failed to use its authority to protect the public interest” by turning the market into a duopoly with reining operator AIS. After an 11-hour meeting, the five-member board of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) voted 3:5 to “acknowledge” the merger, despite fierce opposition from consumer groups, politicians, industry experts, and competitors. The decision will leave Thailand with only two key operators, the merger and AIS, sparking concerns that it will […]

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[Cazna]

Ohhhhh Nooooo There goes the cheap internet in Thailand. These telecomms companies once the infrastructure has been set up we are virtually paying for airtime. It costs them virtually nothing to maintain. It costs them virtually nothing to transmit the data. I worked setting up Vodafone in Australia for many years and the revenue streams telcos achieve is astounding. Just a licence to print money. All the major shareholders have Titles of some description.

[gazmo16]

"The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC), a consumer watchdog, expects that the
the merger would raise mobile tariffs for customers by 240%."

How was this figure arrived at ?  If true people would simply jump ship to AIS. 

I'm surprised under Thailands' tight laws this article doesn't breach their Misinformation rules as it contains conjecture but no facts so looks like just scare mongering.