TOT board set to discuss cellphone service partner
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TOT'S Board will once again discuss the agency's move to seek a possible partner for its mobile phone service unit when it meets tomorrow. The other item on the meeting agenda is whether TOT should take legal action against the National Broadcasting and
A TOT source said that some board members want TOT to select a partner before the NBTC auctions the licences next month.
The members are concerned some potential partners may disappear if they secure new spectrum licences at the auctions.
Advanced Info Service (AIS) is one of the five companies that submitted partner proposals to TOT.
The state agency’s executive committee ordered its management to negotiate with AIS first, as it submitted the best partnership model.
However, the talks were delayed after TOT’s board recently ordered the agency’s management to consult the State Enterprise Policy Office over whether the five partnership proposals are subject to public-private joint venture law.
Sepo has yet to reply.
AIS has proposed expanding the state agency’s mobile network to the wholesale spectrum bandwidth to be used by AIS and other interested companies.
The partnership would focus on the joint expansion of TOT’s existing 3G-2.1GHz service.
The TOT source said that some executives had asked AIS to help TOT develop the wireless broadband service on the state agency’s 2.3GHz spectrum.
This follows a decision by the NBTC’s telecom committee last Friday to hold a meeting on October 29 to consider permitting TOT to upgrade the use of its 2.3GHz for providing fourth-generation wireless broadband service.
The other companies that have submitted partnership proposals to TOT are True Corp, which the TOT board considered the second-best pitch, Loxley (the third best), Mobile LTE and Samart Corp.
Yanyong Akrajindanon, chief executive officer of Mobile LTE, said the company was eager to be TOT’s partner and was still hopeful that would happen.
