Jaruvan asks ICT Ministry to review CAT cellular projects
Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka yesterday submitted an urgent letter to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom asking it to review Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) service projects by the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT).
CDMA is a digital cellular technology that uses spread-spectrum techniques. The Office of the Auditor-General cited a contract between the CAT and BFKT Co Ltd for equipment rental and maintenance, and one with Hutchinson Wireless Multimedia (Hutch) for marketing CDMA services in 25 provinces, including Bangkok. The letter said although the Council of State and a panel appointed by the CAT had ruled that the Hutch contract broke the State/Private Joint Business Agreement Act of 1992, the wireless company continued marketing the service. The letter also stated that the CAT resolution not to impose a Bt3.6-billion fine on Huawei Thailand Consortium, which was hired to provide and install CDMA networks in 51 provinces, for a delay in the project was unethical. The letter said the Office of the Auditor-General had questioned the CAT, which said the project was under investigation. The auditor-general requested that the ICT Ministry oversee and review the projects and ensure that the CAT conforms to the law and protects state interests.
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