CAT 'will take care of' post-concession clients

CAT Telecom has confirmed to the National Broadcasting and Telecommu-nications Commission (NBTC) that it wants to take care of all the current cellular customers of TrueMove and Digital Phone Co after their concessions expire on September 15.

CAT said it should be the sole operator taking care of these mobile users, who number more than 17 million. Both TrueMove and DPC operate under CAT concessions on the 1,800-megahertz frequency.

“CAT has a Type 3 telecom licence, and owns the concession networks while True Move and DPC are only concessionaires. Neither of them has a telecom licence,” CAT advised the NBTC in writing.

Moreover, CAT reminded the commission that once the concession contracts end, both True Move and DPC would have to transfer all networks and assets to CAT within two years. They must take responsibility for all costs of transferring these assets to the state agency, including training cost for CAT staff and transfer of user details.

True on May 15 asked the NBTC to decide quickly on how existing users would be accommodated after the concession expiry. True Move has indicated that it wants to be the operator taking care of all 17 million users but is waiting for the NBTC decision on the matter.

On June 14, DPC advised the NBTC that it had about 80,000 subscribers, while 3 million users of its parent, Advanced Info Services, were roaming the DPC network. It said all of them should be considered in the NBTC’s accommodation plan as well.

The NBTC’s telecom committee is expected to consider today the proposals of CAT, TrueMove and DPC on how to handle these 1,800MHz customers after the concessions end. 

The NBTC is planning to hold a public hearing on July 25 on its draft of remedy measures for these users. 

According to the draft, the commission will assign one party to oversee these customers for one year and will expedite the auction for the TrueMove-DPC 1,800MHz frequency in the third quarter of next year.

However, some have raised legal questions regarding the draft, such as whether the NBTC has any right to award this one-year oversight. 

After the hearing, the commission will allow CAT, True and DPC to discuss among themselves which will take care of the 17 million users of TrueMove and DPC after their concessions expire on September 15.

CAT, True and DPC will have 60 days to make a decision on the matter, starting on September 16. 

They will have to agree on the network leasing fee and outsourcing process.