Thailand

Counterpoint Research figures showed the Thai smartphone market stumbled in Q2, which the company attributed to continued macroeconomic turbulence impacting the country more than its neighbours. Shipments dropped 17 per cent year-on-year to 4. 2 million units.

Thai government agencies partnered with private-sector organisations to establish the Thailand 5G Alliance to promote the use of next-generation applications in driving economic growth across multiple sectors including public health, education, transportation and agriculture.

Counterpoint Research offered a bullish outlook for Thailand smartphone shipments despite a fall during Q3 as a spike in Covid-19 (coronavirus) cases during August dampened consumer sentiment.

Telenor Group unveiled talks with Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group exploring a potential merger between their respective Thai operations dtac and True Corp, a deal Reuters reported would create a business valued at $7. 5 billion.

Strong interest from operators in Thailand pushed up spectrum prices in an auction which exceeded government expectations, as three lots of the 700MHz band alone generated THB51. 4 billion ($1. 64 billion) in bids.

Thailand’s two largest mobile operators announced plans to skip the country’s upcoming 900MHz spectrum auction, which could further delay the proceeding. The country’s number one operator, AIS, revealed its decision in a filing with the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Thailand’s telecoms regulator predicted persistent delays in an auction of 1800MHz spectrum would have no knock-on effect on plans to launch 5G services in the country in 2020.