NBTC should be lauded for keeping bidding transparent

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015
NBTC should be lauded for keeping bidding transparent

Re: “Too much murk among the mobile companies”, Letters, December 26.

As an avid investor and news junkie, I agree with A Johnsen’s observation of the murkiness of media news on the recent marathon bids from the incumbents, AIS, Dtac, True and newcomer, Jasmine, for licences on the 900MHz and 1800MHz spectra offered by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
Most reporters have no clue what they are writing about, which is why they only rely on technical data. The exceptions, however, were your reporters Usanee Mongkolporn and Sirivish Toomgum, who guided me down the path of understanding. Unfortunately, nobody has given credit to the NBTC for being transparent.
The process of the bidding was so good that competition and capitalism were at their best. Representatives of the four bidders had to live in as the guests of NBTC and bid independently via the Internet from their guarded rooms. The process was televised with each sum displayed without the name of the bidder. The final result after four nights and days in isolation was a staggering sum of Bt232 billion earned — the highest amount ever made by any government. Never before have we seen a fair fight openly shown with the gainer exclusively due to the public and not to any individual or his family or cronies.
I salute the NBTC for guarding our national resources. And yet nobody has come out to openly praise the NBTC for not only a job well done, but also lifting the standard of biddings for the future. 
Songdej Praditsmanont