After the meeting of the joint committee, TOT spokesman Vuthiphong Priebjrivat said it would be proposed that the Finance Ministry hold 100 per cent of the national telecom company, which in turn would hold 100 per cent of TOT and CAT.

The firm will manage the telecom networks of TOT, CAT and their private telecom concessionaires, including the fibre-optic networks of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.

"The firm will negotiate with the three state power agencies to buy their fibre-optic networks, of which the purchase value will be appraised by a mediator," Vuthiphong said.

The National Telecommunications Commission has already granted licences to the MEA and the PEA to lease its fibre-optic networks to provide telecom services.

The panel also concluded TOT and CAT would convert the existing private-telecom concession contracts into the network-leasing contracts as part of the plan of the two state agencies to lease the private concessionaires' networks to them and any interested

companies.

The national telecom firm will hold juristic status, and its operations may be scrutinised by the public.

Vuthiphong said the national telecom company would be set up this year.

The CNS, the ICT Ministry, TOT and CAT agreed last week on a plan to set up the holding firm to manage the major telecom networks, based on the concept of a network pool, citing the need to maximise the networks for the country's benefit.

The idea was initiated by TOT, which wants to manage the networks of its private concessionaires and then lease the networks to them and any interested firms.

Telecom executives have questioned the efficiency of the state in managing the networks for public benefit and believe the plan will not materialise during this government's term.

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation