AIS admits it has begun to feel the pain
Mobile-phone operator Advanced Info Service admitted to investors and analysts yesterday that it was being hurt by the ongoing anti-AIS mood, although only slightly.
CEO Somprasong Boonyachai said AIS was feeling the effects of four negative factors. One is the campaign by opponents of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to boycott services related to Shin Corp and Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Shin, which was founded by the Shinawatra family, owns 42.8 per cent of AIS. Somprasong said the other three negative factors were the heavy promotional campaigns of AIS's competitors, the country's political uncertainty, and the slowing economy. "We're analysing which of them is hurting us most," he said. "But I can say that they don't affect us seriously. Our executives have already reached the conclusion that all we can do now is remain patient because we believe that [the four] factors will not last long." Somprasong, speaking during Shin group's quarterly meeting with investors and analysts, said AIS expected things to improve in the second quarter. Usanee Mongkolporn The Nation
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