Thailand’s telecom regulator has reiterated that foreign companies will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming 4G auction and has summoned all three private operators for talks and to examine their shareholding in greater detail.
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission telecoms chair Colonel Setthapong Malisuwan said that any company in breach of the 49% foreign shareholding limit would be expelled from the upcoming 900-MHz and 1800-MHz 4G auction.
The auction was originally scheduled for this August but has been postponed for a year by the ruling military junta. It is now expected to be held in July 2015.
Colonel Setthapong told reporters that the shareholding audit would be to protect the country from foreign investors and will lead to confidence in the Thai telecommunications sector.
Previously Colonel Setthapong said he would exclude Dtac from the auction in retaliation for its parent company Telenor’s exposing the junta’s secret order to shut off access to Facebook.