Briefs

Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Corp have reportedly consulted with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission on their plans to discontinue 2G cellular service, citing the continued decline in the number of 2G subscribers they have. NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said yesterday that “some telecom operators” had written to the regulator to consult on their plans to shut down 2G service, saying that their 2G subscriber numbers stood at just 700,000 to 800,000 combined at present, out of a total of 113 million mobile-phone subscribers, most of whom are now with 3G and 4G networks.
An NBTC source said it was AIS and True that had consulted the NBTC on the matter.
Takorn said the watchdog was concerned that their plan to switch off of 2G service would damage the interests of 2G subscribers, as well as the business of importing 2G handsets. 
Therefore, the switch-off should be proceeded with amid the utmost caution, he said, citing countries like Australia and Singapore and their pans to switch off 2G service.
The secretary-general said the NBTC would invite these telecom operators to discuss the issue and the possible impact on consumers, and would study the ways that other countries were shutting down their 2G service in order to lay down guidelines for doing so in the Kingdom.
The NBTC office will carefully consider the various means to discontinue 2G service and will inform the public about progress at each stage of the deliberation process, he stressed.
The AIS mobile-phone service concession expired in September 2015, while that of True ended in September 2013. 
Both before and after their concessions ended, the companies were allowed to secure spectrum licences from the NBTC, which they mainly use to provide 3G and 4G services. 
The mobile-service concession held by Total Access Communication, better known as DTAC, ends in September next year.
 
INTERIOR DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION 
GROUP EYES 100% GROWTH

An interior-design consultancy and construction group aims to double its revenue to Bt800 million this year, its founder said yesterday.
Dollarp Kiatsupaibul, founder and managing director of interior design and consultancy firm Karapanik and construction company Kho Rakhang Construction, said his group would provide consultancy and construction services to at least six condominium and other residential projects, as well as a hotel project, this year. 
Karapanik was established 15 years ago, while Kho Rakhang Construction was set up seven years ago.
The group from this year onwards will focus on the latter firm in a bid to cash in on what it sees as a bright future for high-end property in both the residential and hotel sectors, he explained.
“We expect our revenue will double this year, from Bt400 million to Bt800 million, and income will mainly be from construction work,” Dollarp added.
Currently, 60 per cent of the group’s business is from detached housing and other residential work, while 40 per cent is accounted for by hotels.
 
CP JOINS 24 OTHER GLOBAL 
GIANTS IN ‘FRESH’ PROJECT

Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) is joining hands with many of the world’s leading corporations to initiate the Food Reform for Sustainability and Health (FReSH) network, with an ambitious goal of “creating a society of responsible, sustainable and healthy food manufacturing and consumption” At the “World Economic Forum” in Switzerland last week, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the EAT Foundation led 25 major companies to officially announce FReSH, a strong network of food and other business communities aimed to create food security on the basis of sustainable and healthy food manufacturing and consumption. 
CP, one of the world’s leading food manufacturers, is joined by giants such as Nestle, Danone, Unilever, Kellogg, PepsiCo, Bayer, DuPont, Google and Quantis in the FReSH network, with all 25 helping drive a project that continues to welcome new members interested in the mission.