ThaiEnquirer-Oct 21
A 11-hour meeting and nearly a year after the mega merger of Thailand’s 2nd and 3rd largest mobile phone operators – True Corporation Plc (TRUE) and Total Access Communications Plc (DTAC), was announced, the regulators – National Broadcasting & Telecommunication Commission (NBTC), gave their approval but with as many as 5 conditions attached. TRUE and DTAC first announced their plans to merge on November 22, 2021, a move that had rocked the telecommunications industry in Thailand which was dominated by just 3 players with Advanced Info Services Plc (ADVANC), being the market leader. The decision to merge for TRUE & DTAC came as they continued to fight for market share and spectrum leaving the likes of DTAC to start to back out from some of their expansionary plans including not participating in the bidding of many of the highly prized spectrums. DTAC, which was until the merger approval, majority owned by Norwegian telecom giant – Telenor SA, has been gradually undertaking a gradual exit from most of its markets it operated in Asia. Earlier this year the Malaysian regulators gave its approval to merge Telenor owned Digi.com Berhad, which was Malaysia’s 2nd largest mobile operator, with Celcom Axiata Berhad, Malaysia’s 3rd largest mobile operator, to create Malaysia’s largest mobile company.
Telenor and CP Group of Thailand would hold a third each in the new merged entity with China Mobile holding 10% and the rest will be free float on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The move to merge in Thailand would make the merged entity a market leader with a market share of 55% leaving ADVANC with a mere 44% market share in the highly competitive market. Read more at: https://www.thaienquirer.com/45341/11-hour-marathon-meeting-approves-mega-merger-to-create-thailands-largest-mobile-operator/
