CAT panel submits ex-CFO

The panel will submit Jirayuth's name for the CAT board's consideration today. If he wins board approval, it is expected to take one month before he is officially appointed to the post.

There are seven contenders for the agency's top post.

A CAT source said that during Jirayuth's recent vision presentation to the selection committee, he said CAT must merge its Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 1-x cellular networks and also seek a partner in the 3G wireless broadband business.

These, he said, were the best ways to strengthen CAT's operation and compete on a par with private telecom operators.

CAT provides a cellular service via its CDMA network in 51 provinces, while Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia provides a similar service - under the Hutch brand - via a separate CDMA network in 25 provinces under a CAT marketing contract.

Hutchison-CAT is a joint venture between CAT and Hong Kong telecom giant Hutchison Telecom. The latter owns 100 per cent of BFKT, which owns the Hutchison-CAT network.

CDMA technology boasts high-speed data-transmission capacity.

CAT has been in talks with Hutchison Telecom on the possible merger of the two networks since the tenure of Jirayuth as chief financial officer, but has been unable to conclude a deal. CAT had earlier proposed buying the BFKT network for Bt6 billion, but Hutchison Telecom estimated its value at Bt30 billion.

In his presentation to the selection committee, Jirayuth said CAT should seek a partnership with a telecom operator that wins a third-generation 2.1GHz spectrum licence from the National Telecommunications Commission, said the source.

The NTC, which is expected to hold the auction for 3G licences this year, will auction off four 2.1GHz licences, of which three are expected to be clinched by Advanced Info Service, Total Access Communication and True Move.

Foreign telecom operators are also expected to take part in the 3G bidding, with one of them possibly landing the fourth licence.

Jirayuth said CAT should seek a partnership with such a successful foreign bidder, as it could offer its existing telecom facilities and locations nationwide to help the partner roll out the 3G network. Such a move would enable the partner to save 70 per cent on its investment costs, he told the committee.

He added that by this method, CAT could enter the 3G business without the need to spend heavily in bidding for its own 3G licence, and could also optimally utilise its existing facilities and land assets.