AIS, DTAC, TrueMove threaten to sue NBTC over 3G licensing

News Wireless Thailand 12 NOV 2012
AIS, DTAC, TrueMove threaten to sue NBTC over 3G licensing
Two Thai mobile operators are threatening to sue the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) if the regulator does not issue the 3G licences by mid-January. The regulator earlier committed to grant the licences to the three auction winners within 90 days of the auction completion. The three winners - Advanced Info Service (AIS), DTAC, and TrueMove - have paid half their bids to the NBTC after it formally declared the winners on 19 October. "We plan to file a petition with the court against the NBTC for failing to award us licences as stipulated in the 3G's information memorandum," the Bangkok Post quotes Somprasong Boonyachai, executive chairman of AIS's parent InTouch, as saying. TrueMove's vice-chairman, Athueck Asvanund, said TrueMove would consider joining legal action if the granting of the licences continues to be delayed. The auction result is controversial and several investigations and a court action are underway. Meanwhile, the NBTC's own committee investigating the auction is expected to seek another thirty days to complete its probe. It is unlikely that the investigation will be completed on 25 November, as initially thought.

Categories:

Mobile

Companies:

TrueMove,  Advanced Info Service,  Scitor Corporation,  DTAC

Countries:

Thailand

Tags:

Government telecommunications licensing, 3G

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