ICT Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom called in executives of the largest cellular operator, its institutional shareholders and itscreditors yesterday to reaffirm that position amid their concerns of an uncertain future for AIS.

Sitthichai will also meet with executives of the other private telecom operators soon, to reassure them about the matter.

Sitthichai has submitted all private telecom operators' concessions to the Council of State to see if their amendments were legal.

"We've no intention of taking back the telecom concessions, only of creating a level playing field among all telecom operators in such a way that the state telecom agencies will not lose benefits, while the private telecom operators can continue doing business," he added.

He insisted all telecom concessions would be treated fairly. "I'll not do something crazy."

He said the Council of State was expected to finish the concession examination about the middle of this month.

AIS chief executive Somprasong Boonyachai said AIS and its institutional shareholders felt more confident after learning from the ministry that it had no plans to take back the concessions.

Telecom Reporters

The Nation