A source at True Move said the final details of the charges were expected to be similar to those involving Total Access Commu-nication (DTAC).

The court last week ordered TOT to connect its subscribers through DTAC's 1.5 million new phone numbers in order to avoid difficulties for consumers. The ruling has effect until the case is settled or the court decides otherwise.

The ruling came after DTAC requested the court to issue an injunction against TOT after TOT's refusal to integrate 1.5 million new phone numbers from DTAC and also True Move because the companies had stopped paying it access charges.

A telecom company needs all other operators to integrate its new numbers into their switching systems so that the numbers are recognised by other networks.

TOT's refusal to register the new numbers means calls from TOT's lines cannot reach the new numbers belonging to DTAC and True Move. Both cellular operators have already sold the new numbers to subscribers.

TOT said after the court ruling that it would register DTAC's new numbers within seven days.

The access charge is the cost the cellular operators under CAT concessions pay to TOT for connecting their subscribers' calls to other networks through TOT facilities. Holders of CAT concessions include DTAC, True Move and Digital Phone Co.

DTAC and True Move have expressed the intention to pay only the interconnection charge, instead of both access and interconnection charges.

The interconnection charge requires all operators to share revenues from voice and data calls between their networks on a fair basis. TOT has earned Bt14 billion annually in access charges.

Telecom Reporters

The Nation