CAT, TOT told to coordinate redundant investments
Information and Communications Tech-nology Minister Anudith Nakornthap yesterday ordered the newly appointed boards of CAT Telecom and TOT jointly to work out ways to avoid redundant network investment and how to serve the ministry's policy of promoting
The minister said the two state telecom agencies should focus not only on commercial aspects but also on promoting service accessibility in remote areas.
He also ordered both boards to hold workshops on avoiding redundant investments.
Anudith noted that both agencies were aware that they also have to seek new revenue sources as their private concession terms approach their expiry dates. The 2010 Frequency Allocation Law obliges TOT and CAT to start transferring their annual concession revenue to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission three years after the law took effect.
In a separate matter, the ICT Ministry recently proposed to the Cabinet a new committee to negotiate with four cellular operators to pay compensation to TOT and CAT for past amendments to their concession agreements, which were said to have financially hurt the two state agencies. The Cabinet has yet to consider the ministry’s proposal.
Under the previous government, a ministry committee failed to reach agreement with Advanced Info Service, Total Access Com-munication (DTAC), TrueMove and Digital Phone Co on compensation.
