The state agencies signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday.

Under the deal, TOT will provide a high-speed Internet network, an Internet Protocol network, and an iPSTAR satellite broadband channel as the communications links for all of the department's 8,000 branch offices across the country.

TOT's project partner Samart Corp Plc will supply the hi-tech communications equipment, such as video phones.

The project highlight is the video-phone system, which is designed to serve long-distance video conferences of 100 local administrative branches simultaneously.

TOT's senior executive vice president for regional sales and customer service, Vasukree Klapairee, said TOT would earn Bt6,900 in monthly revenue per branch from the project, of which Bt4,400 will be paid to Samart.

"We'll start the project in October and expect that we'll be able to break even by the end of the year," he said.

He said the local administrative branches could deploy the new networks to promote fast internal connections among them, which would enable them to better serve the local population.

He added that the project was also the first step for TOT in creating partnerships with 8,000 local administrative branches.

For example, TOT might join with them to promote its services at the branches on a revenue-sharing basis.

Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation