The merger between True and Dtac is again seeing opposition as a government committee tasked with analysing the merger, will push to delay the deal because of legal ambiguities and questions about the Thai telecoms regulator’s authority on the deal.
Bangkok Post reported a government committee made up of 25 members of parliament plan to submit a letter today (April 20) to the cabinet recommending the merger is delayed stating out more time is needed before the deadline of June 15.
Chairman of the committee Anudith Nakornthap: "The committee believes there is still ambiguity regarding legal issues related to the deal, while consumer interest is another critical issue that needs to be dealt with by the regulator to ensure a clear resolution.”
Nakornthap said there are legal loopholes governing the deal, specifically in the Telecom Business Act and a Trade Competition Commission regulation.
However, the committee has no authority to block the merger, stressed Nakornthap.
The letter is separate from a report from the committee which will analyse the impact of the merger in the Thai telecoms market, which will be unveiled to the chairman of parliament next week.
Thailand’s telecoms regulator National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) recently threw out internal opposition to its authority to approve the merger between True and Dtac.
