TRUE UNIT OPTS FOR PAYMENT RELIEF
True Move H Universal Communication Company Limited (TUC), a subsidiary of True Corp which holds a 900MHz licence, has told the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) that it wants to switch to an eased payment schedule for the licence under relief measures for operators.
True yesterday reported, in a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), that TUC wished to take up the government’s offer of assistance announced last month. The measures are available for the three 900MHz telecom operators, including TUC, which have been offered a longer period for their upfront payments. Their total licence fee will be divided into 10 equal instalments.
The 900MHz licence holders opting for the new conditions must inform the NBTC by tomorrow.
The junta’s relief measures include a condition that makes it mandatory for any of 900MHz licence holders accepting its relief offer to take part in the NBTC’s planned sales of 700MHz spectrum. The licence holders can inform the NBTC that they want to take up the junta offer but can later opt not to buy the 700MHz licence slots. However, they would lose the extended payment facility if they do not take part in the sales and would |have to pay as per the original payment schedule.
The NBTC will sell the 700MHz slots on June 19. It has yet to disclose the final price of the slots.
Regarding the 700MHz sales, True said in the SET filing yesterday that TUC has to consider all relevant factors in every facet carefully, especially on the details of the criteria for the 700 MHz frequency spectrum sales. TUC will further consider the matter and proceed as TUC deems appropriate after receiving clear conditions on the criteria for the 700 MHz frequency spectrum allocation.
Under the original terms, Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) and TUC are scheduled to pay hefty final instalments of Bt59.574 billion and Bt60.218 billion, respectively, for their 900MHz licences in 2020. Total Access Communication will pay its final instalment for the 900MHz of Bt30.024 billion in 2022.
RATE KEPT ON HOLD
The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) yesterday voted unanimously to maintain its policy rate at 1.75 per cent, MPC secretary Titanun Mallikamas said.
The economy is expected to continue on the path of recovery although external demand might slow down, Titanun said. The committee viewed the current accommodative monetary policy stance as appropriate and would continue to monitor developments relating to economic growth, inflation, and financial stability as well as associated risks in deliberating future monetary policies. The committee also said the economy would expand at a slower pace than indicated in its previous assessment.
TAX TAKE REVVED UP
A new excise levied on motocycles based on their emissions of carbon dioxide could boost excise-tax revenue by 30 to 40 per cent, according to the Excise Department.
Nattakorn Uthensut, director of the Tax Planning Office at the department, said the Cabinet approved the excise for motorcycles based on emissions in a bid to reduce air pollution, particularly particulate matter that contributes to heavy PM2.5 readings.
“Now, the department takes in Bt2 billion in excise-tax revenue annually from motorcycles. After the excise tax restructuring, the excise-tax revenue from motorcycles will increase by 30-40 per cent or about Bt600-Bt800 million per year,” he said. On average, motorcycle |riders will have to pay Bt100-Bt800 per machine annually under the new |structure.
