Thailand’s telecoms regulator said yesterday that the country’s two largest operators will be allowed to submit bids for 3G licenses despite the fact that their ownership structures could be in breach of the auction’s foreign ownership rules. According to a Dow Jones Newswires report, the National Telecom Commission’s (NTC) move ensures that operators AIS and DTAC are qualified for next month’s 3G license auctions, despite both companies having foreign strategic partners. Singapore’s SingTel owns a 19.1 percent stake in AIS, while Norway’s Telenor controls DTAC. The report notes that the auction rules are designed to “bar foreign firms from acting in a way which is considered having direct and indirect control, or influence, over Thai telecom companies through either policy or management decisions which go beyond what is allowed by their share ownership.” NTC Commissioner Natee Sukonrat told reporters that firms considered violating the regulations will be allowed to make changes to ensure they comply with them within a certain timeframe agreed to by the NTC.

Around 18 companies have so far requested application forms to bid for the 3G licenses, according to the report. These include Thai-listed companies AIS, DTAC, True Corp, Loxley, Samart I-Mobile and Jasmine International. Interested bidders can collect applications from the regulator until 29 August and are required to submit their bids by the following day. Those who pass the pre-qualification process will be announced on the 15 September with the auctions set to take place 20-28 September. The starting price for the 15-year licenses has been set at THB12.8 billion (US$405 million).