TOT board backs 3G plan

A source said TOT would roll out 5,200 base stations nationwide.

TOT is in the process of taking over cellular operator Thai Mobile, its joint venture with CAT Telecom, in a Bt2.4billion deal. Thai Mobile owns a 2.1GHz spectrum band, the global standard platform for pro¬viding the 3G service.

Many private cellular operators are interested in partnering TOT to develop a 3G service. The technol¬ogy enables operators to transmit bandwidthhungry services and applications such as video stream¬ing to phone users.

TOT will submit the plan for the consideration of the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Public Debt Management Office. If all approve the plan, TOT will forward it for the considera¬tion of the National Economic and Social Development Board and later the Cabinet.

In a separate matter, the board approved a Bt400,000 salary for new TOT president Varut Suvakorn.