ICT Ministry sets three tasks for new TOT board
The Information and Communications Technology Ministry has instructed the newly appointed TOT board to achieve three key tasks within the next three months, including the completion of the first phase of the rollout of the nationwide 3G network.
The tasks will be key performance indicators to evaluate the board’s performance in the first three months, ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said.
First, the state agency has to finish rolling out 5,320 base stations of the 3G-2.1GHz network within the next three months. Of the total, around 3,500 bases have already been set up. The TOT failed to complete the rollout by the original deadline of within this year, because of the difficulty of co-siting the stations with telecom operators.
It must also adjust its marketing strategy to boost revenue for its telecom business. In addition, TOT, one of the top three broadband Internet service providers, has to further enhance its broadband Internet service. If the board fails to accomplish the three tasks, the ministry will try to find out what the obstacles are, Anudith added.
He said that TOT is working out a plan to deal with the approaching end of the Advanced Info Service (AIS) concession in September 2015. The state agency wants to continue using the 900MHz spectrum it granted to AIS after the concession ends in order to serve AIS subscribers during the transition period.
The ministry has to discuss further with the National Broadcasting and Telecommun-ications Commission (NBTC) whether the latter will permit TOT to continue using this 900MHz spectrum for a certain period after the AIS concession ends.
The ministry and the NBTC have differing views on the issue. While the former wants the NBTC to allow CAT Telecom and TOT to use the spectra they have granted to the concession holders for a certain period after the concessions expire, the watchdog wants to reclaim all the spectra for reallocation by means of auction.
The 1,800MHz concessions of TrueMove and Digital Phone Co (DPC) under CAT will end next September. CAT recently talked with the NBTC about the possibility that it keep using the 1,800MHz spectrum to serve TrueMove and DPC customers for a certain period. The watchdog suggested CAT seek ways with the ministry to use the 1,800MHz spectrum to serve the government’s ICT policies as one possible
