AIS sees partnership deal with TOT soon
ADVANCED Info Service is hopeful that it will be able to wrap up its partnership deal with TOT soon to provide third-generation cellular service jointly on the state agency’s 2.1-gigahertz band.
AIS chief executive officer Somchai Lertsutiwong said his company was also seeking a partnership on providing the service on TOT’s 2.3GHz band.
Currently AIS holds a total of 40 megahertz of bandwidth on the 2.1GHz, 1,800MHz and 900MHz spectra, while TOT has 15MHz on 2.1GHz and 60MHz on 2.3GHz.
TOT has selected AIS as its strategic partner on its 2.1GHz band but has still not signed the official contracts.
TOT president Monchai Noosong said recently that the agency would start to announce its partnership plans with private telecom operators and supplier of telecommunications-transmission equipment on its 2.3GHz spectrum this month.
Yesterday AIS subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network picked up the 15-year 900MHz licence it won at an auction held in May by the National Broadcasting and Telecom-munications Commission. Jas Mobile Broadband had won that band at a previous auction last December but failed to fulfil the initial payment conditions, so the NBTC had to hold another bid.
