Known as "Asia's Boutique Airline", Bangkok Airways won the distinction for the third consecutive year. The award reflects the airline's ability to sustain its service standards labelled under its brand, said ML Nandhika Varavarn, airline vice president. - The Nation.

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CAT chairman resigns

CAT Telecom Plc chairman Wisudhi Srisuphan submitted his resignation yesterday to the Finance Ministry, which is the agency's 100-per-cent shareholder.

Wisudhi said he was standing down as the board had come under strong criticism from its labour union.

CAT has missed several business targets, including the goal of giving a commercial debut to its high-speed cellular service in 51 provinces on schedule this month due to the lack of a good marketing plan and billing system. - The Nation.

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Lao Telecom inks deal

Lao Telecom (LTC), the largest telecommunications service provider in Laos, has awarded a contract to Sweden's Ericsson for the expansion of its GSM network in four provinces in the central region of the country.

 The contract includes core and radio network equipment and covers a comprehensive range of telecommunications services, including network deployment and radio network optimisation. The project will be implemented over eight months.

LTC is 51 per cent owned by the Lao government and 49 per cent by Shin Satellite.

When completed in October, LTC's network quality, performance and coverage in the capital Vientiane, and in Vientiane, Xaisomboun and Bolikhamxai provinces, will be significantly enhanced. Network capacity will also be increased to meet its fast growth of subscribers, allowing it to support more than 70,000 users.

There are 561,000 mobile subscribers in Laos today, equivalent to 9 per cent of the population. - The Nation.

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Thailand joins TEIN2

Thailand's connection to the Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN2), the world's most advanced international research and education network, will give local researchers unparalleled ability to participate in world-class collaborative projects.

An initiative of the Asia Europe Meeting (Asem) and funded by the European Union, TEIN2 is the first large-scale research and education network for Southeast Asia. It connects regional researchers with their counterparts in Europe via the GEANT2 network, providing Asia-Pacific countries with a gateway for global research collaboration.

The European Commission - the executive arm of the EU - is contributing ¤10 million (Bt484 million), which is 80 per cent of the budget of TEIN2.

Initiated in 2004 and running until the end of 2007, TEIN2 contributes to the further development of the Trans-Eurasia Information Network, which was launched in 2001 on the initiative of the Asem.

More information is available at www.tein2.net http://www.tein2.net.

- The Nation.