TOT braces for life without 900MHz spectrum
TOT's board on Wednesday directed its management to draw up a business plan focusing on how the state enterprise could survive the possible loss of its 900MHz spectrum and how to maximise its network assets, board spokesman Djitt Laowattana said.
TOT’s 900MHz concession expires in September and will be put up for auction in November by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), but TOT’s labour union plans to take legal action against the NBTC for reclaiming its 900MHz frequency.
TOT has informed the NBTC of its desire to keep part of the frequency to continue offering a cellular service after the concession ends.
TOT has 13,750 telecommunication towers from the 900MHz concession it granted to AIS, but both are disputing the ownership of these towers.
AIS counts 42 million mobile subscribers, with 40 million on its 2.1GHz network under an NBTC licence and the rest on the 900MHz network.
AIS is among five companies that have proposed to become TOT’s strategic partner. The others are True Corp, Loxley, Samart Corp and Mobile LTE.
TOT’s board on Wednesday also approved the setting up of a working group to negotiate with all these five prospective partners over synergy with its six core business units.
TOT has declined to disclose which of them proposed the highest financial benefits but says it will talk with all of them about a possible partnership before picking the best one for each business unit.
TOT aims to finalise the deals next month.
