True-DTAC oligopolistic merger challenged in a Thai court

The Supreme Administrative Court has ordered the lower Administrative Court to reconsider a petition by five consumers seeking to revoke the telecom regulator’s approval of the merger between CP Group’s True and Telenor’s DTAC.

Key Takeaways

• The Supreme Administrative Court has ordered the lower Administrative Court to consider a petition seeking the revocation of the telecom regulator’s consent for the merger of CP Group’s True and Telenor’s DTAC, despite the petition being submitted outside the permissible period.
• The petition, filed by a group of consumers, argues that the merger will lead to higher service charges, fewer players in the telecom market, and potential market control in the future.
• The Supreme Administrative Court emphasized the public interest in maintaining free and fair competition in the telecom industry, highlighting the potential widespread…