While my business teacher said that monopolies are not good for business, when I worked for a couple of monopolies they thought it was the bees knees. A whole market for them and no competitors.
Now, why would they give that up?
A government can break up monopolies if it has control, but sharing power with others of a different sensibility will make it doubly hard.
Thaksin made more money after AIS phones' IMEIs were unlocked, which shows it can be done.