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Five companies, including subsidiaries of the three major telecom operators, yesterday picked up application documents to bid for 1,800MHz licences at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

They are Advanced Info Service’s Advanced Wireless Network; DTAC TriNet and DTAC Broadband, both units of Total Access Communication; True Corp’s TrueMove H Universal Communication; and Jas Mobile Broadband, a subsidiary of Jasmine International.

The NBTC is open for companies to pick up application documents between the hours of 8.30am and 4.30pm until September 28.

Applications to take part in the auction can then be submitted to the regulator from September 30 to October 21.

The NBTC will announce the names of qualified bidders on October 21, and hold the auction on November 11.

Bt600 million set aside for True4U programme revamp

True4U digital-TV channel this month earmarked Bt600 million for the revamp of its programmes by adding more movies, series and game shows.

Naetchanok Wipatasinlapin, managing director of True4U Station Co – operator of True4U – said the expenditure formed part of this year’s overall Bt2-billion investment in the channel.

The company expects to gain an audience share of more than 30 per cent by the end of the year, while its full-year revenue target remains Bt1 billion, she said.

Rules amended on non-listed firms’ public offerings

The Securities and Exchange Commission has amended rules governing issuers’ qualifications to enhance efficiency in the securities public-offering (PO) review process of non-listed companies.

SEC secretary-general Rapee Sucharitakul yesterday said the Capital Market Supervisory Board had approved the revision of regulations governing the qualifications of non-listed company issuers proposing a securities PO.

The revised rules require the issuers not to have any record of severe misconduct for a certain period prior to making a PO submission.

For example, the issuer must never have been rejected for any PO submission due to suspicion of severe inappropriate behaviour in the past five years.

The revised rules aim to prevent non-listed companies with severe-misconduct profiles from public fund-raising, Rapee said.

Under the former rules, after any misconduct found during a PO submission, such as forged accounting, an issuer would only face disapproval.

The new rules are already in effect, said the SEC chief.

CP in food initiative with Australian meat processor

Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) recently agreed to collaborate with Thomas Foods International (TFI) – one of Australia’s largest beef and lamb meat-processing businesses – to explore business opportunities in developing value-added meat processing and food initiatives, by sourcing the best and safest raw materials from Australia for the world market.

The two companies are exploring a number of opportunities to collaborate, particularly in the value-added beef and lamb meat business by utilising state-of-the-art technology and know-how from CP, as well as sourcing the best-quality raw materials that are safe and hygienic from TFI, which exports to more than 80 countries worldwide.