The system enables commuters and staff at the airport, which is poised to be a major transportation hub in Southeast Asia, to enjoy advanced communications with seamless coverage, as well as international roaming services, the company said.

Under the project, about 1,200 antennas were installed to cover the whole area of the new airport, including 563,000 square metres of public area and car parking space.

Scheduled to open later this year, the airport is expected to serve up to 45 million passengers each year, and this number may double to 120 million when the airport's second phase is completed. - The Nation.

Laguna Phuket : Managing director resigns

James Batt, managing director of Laguna Phuket, has announced his resignation after 10 years with Laguna Resorts and Hotels Plc.

He will leave in June to take up a new position with a hotel company headquartered in San Diego, California.

Batt joined Laguna Resorts and Hotels in November 1995 as executive director and vice president of Laguna operations, responsible for overseeing the operations of all five of the company's resort hotels: the Banyan Tree Phuket, Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket, Dusit Laguna Resort, Laguna Beach Resort and Allamanda Laguna Phuket.

He was also in charge of facilities such as the Canal Village shopping centre and the Laguna Phuket Golf Club.

Shortly after joining, Batt was promoted to joint managing director and more recently managing director of Laguna Phuket. - The Nation.

Industrial zone : Amata to cater to Japan SMEs

Amata Corp Plc and OTA City Industrial Promotion Organisation are to open an industrial zone for small and medium-sized Japanese enterprises at Amata Industrial Estate in Chon Buri province.

That zone, which is expected to open next month, will be called "OTA Techno Park".

It will be managed by Amata Summit Ready Built Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Amata Corp, the company's vice president for business development, Somhatai Panichewa, said.

Amata will also invest Bt170 million to expand the project with second and third phases, offering complete facilities and administrative support, he said.

- The Nation.

Lenses : PPG takes over Intercast

PPG Industries, a US-based manufacturer of glass and chemical products, has acquired Intercast Europe SpA, the world's leading manufacturer of non-prescription hard-resin sun lenses, as well as its related manufacturing operations in Thailand.

PPG Industries will also takeover certain related manufacturing and distribution facilities in Italy and Hong Kong. The terms of the transactions have not been disclosed.

"The acquisitions will strengthen PPG's optical products portfolio and expand the global presence of our optical materials group through Intercast's strong international footprint," said PPG's vice president of optical products, Rick Elias.

Based in Parma, Italy, Intercast manufactures and distributes optical sun lenses as well as optically clear sheet products for non-eyewear applications.

The business will continue to operate under the Intercast name. - The Nation.