NBTC invites Dtac, True to explain merger possibility
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has invited representatives from two mobile operators to explain a move by their parent companies to pursue a merger.
A source revealed on Sunday that representatives of Total Access Communication Plc (Dtac) will meet with NBTC on Monday (November 22) while the meeting with True Corporation Plc was scheduled on the following day.
“The meetings aim to discuss the possibility of the two companies’ merger and its impact to the country’s telecommunication industry, as well as potential market domination issues,” said the source.
Dtac's parent firm Telenor has confirmed earlier that it is discussing with True’s parent Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group about the possibility of a merger between Dtac and True.
According to NBTC’s merger rules and regulations, the two operators will have to inform NBTC 90 days before their merger occurs.
Dtac currently has a total of 19.3 million mobile subscriptions while True is operating 32 million subscriptions under the brand TrueMove H. If the merger deal is success the two will have a combined subscriptions of 51.3 million, while the other operator, AIS, has 43.65 million mobile subscriptions.
Dtac also has over 90,000 base stations, or radio towers, while True has over 12,000 base stations.
