Telenor ASA’s plan to merge its Thai unit with a local mobile operator has run into fresh regulatory scrutiny and objections from a rival that it is seeking to topple as the Southeast Asian nation’s largest carrier.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is imposing harsher measures against mobile operators that allow the registration of more than five SIM cards by an individual through dealers, vowing to fine the carriers 1 million baht per day for violating the restriction.
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have agreed to set up a joint committee to ramp up efforts to move overhead telecom cables underground.
Major mobile operators have affirmed they are fully prepared for customer data protection and cybersecurity standards in line with the requirements of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which is scheduled to come into force on Wednesday.
An Upper House committee has shortlisted two prospective candidates for board member posts at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), which would increase the number of commissioners to seven in line with its maximum quota.