Probe into telecom concessions
The Information and Communications Technology Ministry (ICT) has ordered a probe into all telecom concession contracts, to determine whether they are in accordance with the law. ICT Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said he had ordered state concession owners TOT and CAT Telecom to conduct an examination into all aspects to see whether there were any illegalities in the concessions.
He added that the examination would focus on whether past amendments in the concession contracts had received Cabinet approval. If not, he will consult the relevant state agencies about how to rectify the situation. The move is part of his policy of ensuring fair competition in the telecom sector, he added. Nukul Bawornsirinukul, head of the TOT union, said the union found there were four amendments in the cellular concession granted by TOT to leading operator Advanced Info Service. The fixed-line concessions that TOT granted to True Corp and TT&T have 16 and eight amendments, respectively. Wattana Iambamrung, head of CAT Telecom's labour union, said the union was in the process of examining CAT's private-concession contracts, including those of Total Access Communication, True Move and Digital Phone. Meanwhile, TOT's board yesterday cancelled its plan to join with Yahoo in developing content, citing a low rate of return. The board also forbade TOT from procuring equipment through a no-bid process, in order to ensure transparency. It also ordered TOT to delay 11 procurement projects - worth a total of Bt600 million - that the state agency was going to launch using a no-bid process. Telecom Reporters The Nation
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