Mobile operators 'keen to use TOT 3G'

The Nation

All three major cellular operators recently told TOT that they were interested in providing a retail wireless broadband service via TOT's planned nationwide 3G network, a TOT source said yesterday.

Advanced Info Service, Total Access Communication and True Move were also asked at the meeting to propose rental rates to TOT for the state enterprise's possible plan to lease their base station locations to install its 3G network equipment, the source said.

This is also part of TOT's drafting of the terms of reference for 3G network project.

Earlier the TOT board said the terms would be finished last Friday.

TOT has to talk with all three operators in separate meetings about 3G matters in order to avoid criticism of favouring certain telecom operators. AIS was granted its mobile concession by TOT.

TOT plans to spend about Bt20 billion on the 3G network roll-out and aims to start the leasing service this year.

Last week the Information and Communications Technology Ministry withdrew TOT's revised 3G business plan from the Cabinet agenda, saying the Budget Bureau and the Finance Ministry had yet to submit their opinions on it to the Cabinet.

The ICT minister wants TOT to finance the new network via domestic loans, instead of export credit as originally planned.

The revised plan will also see TOT procure the network via the "general method" instead of the "international method".

The international method entails TOT informing all embassies, so they can invite interested global equipment suppliers to join the bidding.

That process takes at least two months and could threaten TOT's plan to launch its 3G-network leasing service this year.