Consumer Association expresses some concerns over 3G licensing

The Consumer Association today held a press conference announcing its stance to the upcoming 3G auction. Media activist Supinya Klangnarong was there, on the panel, and live Tweeted the declaration, which can be summarised as follows.

• Well, we dont oppose the auction itself but think there's better option for its criteria.
• We demand NTC to act as a regulator to create fair competition&protect consumers'rights not only as the cheerleaders of telcom operators
• 1. We think doing auction for 2 licenses first is better for competition than fully giving 4 ones for 4 (incumbent)operators. #3G
• 2. NTC should set condition to guarantee lowest prices 4 comsumers b'cos 3G license will replace cost of concession for operators
• 3. Benefit fr 3G will be huge for licensees so NTC should set starting price as fair as possible. Not too much but Not too little.
• Last not least,We DON'Tspeak 4 AIS,DTAC,TRUEMOVE,CATorTOT. We stand for fair competiton, comsumers benefit & universal service for all.

The stance seems to be an interesting compromise between many of the more extreme views expressed. Staggering auctions is probably a new idea but the idea of beauty contest vs. a straight auction has been argued over and over again. The benefit for 3G in bullet number 3 refers to the fact that a new license regime would not have to pay TOT/CAT 30 or 35 percent of revenue as per the current arrangement.

Elsewhere TOT and CAT unions have claimed the auction would cost the country huge amounts of money in terms of lost profit from the increased competition via a twisted logic that equates profit by the state enterprises as the good of the country.

The suspense continues.