Thailand's telecommunications regulator (NBTC) is embroiled in a leadership crisis: PM Anutin has signed a submission to remove chairman Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck over alleged violations of conflict-of-interest rules (Section 8(2) of the NBTC Act). The NBTC selection committee voted unanimously that Dr Sarana held a prohibited characteristic—specifically, continued medical work at Mahidol University after joining the commission—but he contests the finding and remains in post pending a Royal Command. This institutional instability directly impacts telecom policy, notably the contentious 2022 True-DTAC merger approval (which Dr Sarana's casting vote enabled) and upcoming digital TV license expirations in 2029. For Thai SMEs in telecom/broadcasting, regulatory clarity is now in flux.