Page 151 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

An investigation is underway into illegal acts, such as mation, potentially violating the Act concerning discrim-
false and misleading advertisements that used the SK inatory practices against users. The KCC decided to
Telecom cyber breach. A fact-finding investigation into proceed with an investigation as KT appears to have po-
KT has been launched following a report that claimed tentially violated the Telecommunications Business Act,
South Korea the mobile carrier had attracted customers with false stating that it will take strict measures against KT if any
and misleading advertisements related to SK Tele-
violations are confirmed. An advisory was issued by the
com’s recent data breach. The Korea Communications KCC on the 11th to prevent consumer harm from false
Commission (KCC, Chairperson Lee Jinsook) began a and misleading advertisements by distributors?includ-
fact-finding investigation into KT on July 16, following ing authorized dealers and retailers?particularly in light
a report filed on July 7 claiming that KT ran false and of the release of Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Z Fold
misleading ads using SK Telecom’s data breach in vio- 7 series (July 25) and the repeal of the Mobile Device
lation of the Telecommunications Business Act. It has Distribution Improvement Act (July 22). The KCC plans
been found through the KCC’s on-site inspection on the to continue to protect consumers by strictly regulating
10th that KT’s headquarters-including its regional and illegal and deceptive practices that may harm users.
sales division-may have exaggerated or misleadingly (July 21, 2025) www.kcc.go.kr
explained important contract terms and service infor-

Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunica- Thais. Tourist SIM Validity Cap: Tourist SIM cards will
tions Commission (NBTC) has approved eight stringent now be limited to a 60-day validity period. Tourists wish-
new measures aimed at combating technology-related ing to extend usage beyond this period must undergo
crimes, a move that will place greater legal responsi- re-verification of their identity, with top-ups no longer ex-
Thailand bility on telecom operators. The decision, made at the tending the validity automatically. Blocking Illegal SIM
NBTC board meeting, mandates strict compliance under
Boxes and Gateways: Any SIM box devices or gateways
the Emergency Decree on Measures for the Prevention capable of supporting four or more SIMs that are not
and Suppression of Technology Crime B.E. 2566. Any registered with the NBTC will be barred from connecting
operator negligence leading to damages could result in to service providers' networks.
joint legal liability. Pol Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn, an (July 2, 2025) www.nationthailand.com
NBTC commissioner, stated that these new regulations
are designed to vigorously prevent and suppress cyber- Thailand generated THB41.3 billion ($1.3 billion)
crime, compelling network and other telecom service from the sale of spectrum in the 1500MHz, 2100MHz
providers to take on a share of the responsibility. The and 2300MHz bands to True Corp and AIS, the only
eight key measures greenlit by the NBTC are: Screening operators to participate in the auction. True Corp won
Suspicious Users: Service providers must monitor un- 70MHz of 2300MHz spectrum for THB21.8 billion
usual user behaviour, such as excessive call volumes, and four blocks of 5MHz in the 1500MHz band for
multiple calling locations, or the use of illicit devices THB4.7 billion. AIS secured two blocks of 15MHz in the
like SIM boxes. They are empowered to immediately 2100MHz band for THB14.9 billion. The winning bids
suspend services upon detecting such irregularities. were 10 per cent to 18 per cent higher than the reserve
Swift Service Suspension: Upon receiving notification prices across the three bands. No bids were submitted
from the NBTC regarding a suspicious number, mobile for the 850MHz band, with two 5MHz blocks available,
service providers must suspend the service within 24 with seven 5MHz blocks of 1500MHz spectrum also
hours. For other telecommunication services, this sus- not sold. True Corp noted in a stock market filing it is
pension must occur within three days. Enhanced Sub- awaiting official notification of the auction results from
scriber Data Verification: New mobile subscriber infor- the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications
mation must be fully verified within seven days. Existing Commission, while AIS stated it will disclose details
numbers, both pre-2024 and post-2024 registrations, of the asset acquisition after it is officially notified.
are to be expedited for verification within 90 days and The auction closed on 29 June. Thailand became a
one year, respectively. Tighter SMS Link Controls: Ser- duopoly of private companies in 2023 when True Corp
vice providers are now required to verify the authentic- merged with Telenor’s mobile unit dtac. State-owned
ity of all links attached to SMS messages. Senders of National Telecom had 3.2 million mobile connections
Application-to-Person (A2P) messages must also reg- at end-March, data from GSMA Intelligence showed.
ister a unique 'Sender Name' before dispatching any The operator owns 5MHz of 700MHz spectrum. True
message. Limits on Foreign SIM Registrations: Foreign Corp ended Q1 with 48.5 million mobile connections
nationals will be restricted to registering a maximum of compared with 45.7million at AIS.
three mobile numbers per operator. Passport verifica- (June 30, 2025) www.mobileworldlive.com
tion will be mandatory for all SIM registrations by non-

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