3G case 'bound for court'
Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap believes that the case involving the CAT Telecom-True Group partnership on third-generation cellular service will end up being settled in court.
He doubts that the case will end once the ministry completes the probe into whether their partnership deals comply with all laws and regulations. After the probe, dissatisfied parties might take the case to court to seek fair treatment.
The committee tasked by the ministry to probe the case is to complete its work in February.
Anudith said he was ready to look into all the doubtful cases related to the ministry’s state enterprises on an undiscriminating basis.
CAT and True’s subsidiaries Real Future and Real Move signed agreements in January to pave the way for their partnership to launch 3G service nationwide on 850 megahertz.
The deals raised questions about their legality, including conformity to the Public-Private Joint Venture Act. The Office of the Auditor-General and the Senate science and communications committee are also looking into the matter.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has asked CAT and True to amend the contracts to make them conform to its anti-trust regulations.
