Will consumers pay the price for True-Dtac mega-merger?

14 Sept 01:21 Key points summarised by AI

Telecom giants True Corporation Plc and Total Access Telecommunication Plc (Dtac) announced a mega-merger, combining the second and third largest mobile providers in Thailand into an equal partnership.
Consumer advocates and research institutes express significant concern that the merger will drastically reduce market competition, potentially leading to higher service costs, lower quality, and fewer choices for consumers.
Regulators, including the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Trade Competition Commission (TCC), are under pressure to ensure fair competition, though questions arise about the effectiveness of existing regulations and the watchdogs' ability to intervene.
Critics highlight the perceived weakness of Thailand's competition watchdogs compared to international standards, fearing the merger could further concentrate market power in a vital sector and impact future public revenue from spectrum auctions.

Uthenthawai students and alumni declare truce with Pathumwan rivals

Yesterday 20:34 Key points summarised by AI

Uthenthawai students and alumni have pledged to cease violent clashes with Pathumwan Institute rivals, coinciding with their campus's reopening after a 90-day closure.
The Minister of Higher Education is mediating the long-running conflict, while the campus closure has significantly disrupted in-person classes and laboratory work for over 1,000 students.
Uthenthawai resists relocation from its current site, citing a historical land grant from King Rama VI, despite Chulalongkorn University's plans to reclaim the land for an educational hub.
Concerns are mounting over the legality of the campus closure, its detrimental impact on uninvolved students, and the potential commercial development of the land, which critics argue contradicts the late King Rama VI's intentions.