TOT, AIS to evaluate operator's network assets
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TOT is in talks with its concession holder Advanced Info Service (AIS) over a plan to evaluate the company's network assets in connection with the state agency's goal of becoming a major renter of infrastructure to telecom operators.
TOT chairman Panthep Chamrasromran and AIS vice chairman Somprasong Boonyachai discussed the matter on Monday.
Panthep yesterday said the TOT board had approved the management’s hiring of a consultant, which must be a well-known listed firm, to evaluate AIS’s network assets. The evaluation will be completed within six months.
AIS will also separately evaluate its network assets, after which both parties will compare the results.
The evaluation is part of TOT’s plan to become a major telecom network provider by renting 100,000 kilometres of transmission lines and the 15,000 telecom towers of AIS, which will be transferred to TOT once the company’s concession ends in late 2015. TOT itself has about 5,000 towers.
TOT will also ascertain which part of the AIS network will be transferred to it and which part is still the subject of a legal dispute, in order to clear all problems and ensure a smooth transfer of network assets.
Panthep said TOT would also appoint a consultant to design the second phase of its nationwide roll-out of the third-generation network and the planned 4G network. The consultant will complete the task within six months.
The second phase will see its roll-out of an additional 15,000 3G base stations worth Bt30 billion.
The state agency is scheduled to completely roll out 5,320 3G base stations by the end of May during the first phase.
Meanwhile, TOT and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission have been in talks over TOT’s intention to return half of the 64 megahertz bandwidth of its 2.3-gigahertz spectrum to the NBTC for reallocation and keep the rest to provide 4G broadband cellular service.
NBTC telecom committee chairman Settapong Malisuwan said both parties would have to examine the legal aspects of whether TOT could just return the spectrum to the regulator and keep the rest for provision of the service.
TOT is open for any telecom operator to rent its 3G and planned 4G networks, Panthep said.
He denied speculation that TOT did not want to see the NBTC proceed with 2.1GHz licensing as it wanted telecom operators to lease its 3G capacity and 3G network to provide service, instead of having their own 3G licences and networks.
He added that the NBTC had to be able to provide a satisfactory answer to the public if it decided to auction the 2.1GHz spectrum at a low price, which would mean it transferring less money from the auction to the state coffers.
He said TOT had transferred a huge amount of revenue to the state coffers over many years.
The NBTC intends to auction the 2.1GHz spectrum in the third quarter of this year.
