This report looks at the operators in the strong Thai mobile market. When two new mobile players - TA-Orange and Hutchison CAT - entered the market to challenge the entrenched duopoly of Advanced Info Service and Total Access Communications, the competition became increasingly vigorous. Two other operators, Thai Mobile and CAT Mobile, also entered the market in a confusing fashion and without much impact. The local mobile sector has seen a sustained period of high competition involving heavy price-cutting as the battle for market share raged. There was likely to be a push for consolidation, especially as the market gets closer to saturation. The government’s sectoral reform, once finalised, should also have a major impact on the shape and direction of the market. The matter of government issuing 3G licences had become a prolonged saga - but the end was in sight.
