NBTC green light for merger of internet service provider 3BB with AWN
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) on Friday approved the acquisition of internet service provider Triple T Broadband (TTTBB), also known as 3BB, by Advanced Wireless Network (AWN), a subsidiary of telecom giant Advanced Info Service (AIS).
Four of the five commissioners who attended the meeting on Friday voted in favour of the deal. They are Air Marshal Thanapant Raichareon, Pirongrong Ramasoota, Suphat Suphachalasai, and Somphop Purivigraipong. Commissioner Torpong Selanon abstained from voting.
The acquisition will make AIS Thailand’s biggest provider of fixed broadband internet with 4.69 million users, surpassing current market leader True Corporation, which has 3.8 million customers.
AIS and 3BB currently provide fixed broadband internet to 2.38 million and 2.31 million households, respectively.
State-owned National Telecom, meanwhile, has 1.8 million customers.
The NBTC board laid down three conditions for AWN:
1. NBTC regulations regarding service fees must be followed strictly, which include not increasing the price of packages existing before the acquisition for at least five years, while the service quality provided to current customers must be maintained.
2. AWN must ensure that small entrepreneurs can freely compete in the market as well as rent their telecom network to increase geographic coverage. The company must also draft a plan to expand fixed broadband access and fixed wireless access to areas that have no service for the next five years with investment amount of at least 10 billion baht.
3. AWN must report the business operation to the NBTC every six months for at least five years.
