News
Report claims Thai telco watchdog will not revoke parent’s operating licences.
Jas Mobile Broadband has been fined 200 million baht (€5.01 million) for failing to pay for its 4G licence.
The Bangkok Post reported on Thursday that the penalty must be paid to Thailand’s telco watchdog, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) by 16 June. Jas Mobile has the right to appeal.
The company won one of two 900-MHz licences up for auction in December with a bid of THB75.65 billion (€1.93 billion). However, on 21 March it defaulted on the payment of its first instalment, forfeiting the THB645 million deposit it paid to take part in the auction.
AIS subsequently acquired the spectrum in an uncontested re-auction late last week.
According to Thursday’s Bangkok Post report, the fine levied on Jas Mobile was calculated based on compensating the NBTC for operating expenses incurred during December’s auction, the cost of May’s re-auction, and an interest rate of 7.5% on Jas’ missed payment.
When Jas defaulted, there was talk of revoking the operating licences of its parent company, Jasmine International, which offers fixed broadband and TV services.
That now looks unlikely, after NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith reportedly said the regulator lacked the authority to take such action because it could breach Thailand’s telecom laws.
