Telecom auction clearly rigged
The 3G auction was a fixed-price sale without any element of competition. All adjustments of the auction's regulations before auction were to satisfy True's demands: maximum frequencies per bidder, lowering the minimum price, and the schedule for payment.
Also no regulations were made to take care of the interests of the consumers in the auction preparations – even if the telecom sector is there first for the consumers, the Thai people, and not for the commercial telecom companies.
After the auction, it was strange to see that it was a telecom expert who protested about users’ interests not being taken care of, while the talking head for the consumers only raised questions about possible foreign dominance in Dtac – a strange priority.
Thailand will have 3G soon, but unfortunately not through a clean process to be proud of. Even with the media spotlight through the whole process, it wasn’t worthy of democracy. What about the next big state sale or purchase?
A Johnsen
Chon Buri
