DE to seek Cabinet approval on TOT-CAT merger next week

DE to seek Cabinet approval on TOT-CAT merger next week

By THE NATION

Digital Economy and Society (DE) Minister Buddhipongse Punakanta revealed on Wednesday that he will present the motion to merge TOT Public Company Limited and CAT Telecom Public Company Limited into one organization under the new name of National Telecom Holding (NTH) to the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday (Nov. 19).

“I have tasked DE permanent secretary Atcharin Pattanapanchai to gather the information and present it to the Ministry meeting in a few days to make sure that everything is ready,” he said.

The minister added that he has discussed with National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) the possibility of TOT and CAT joining the bidding for 5G frequency. “We are exploring both options: to have them join as two individual bidders and bid together under the name of NTH,” he said.

“DE will try to finish the merger as soon as possible to grant enough time for both TOT and CAT to prepare themselves for the bidding,” said Buddhipongse.

“Once the Cabinet approves the merger, it will take at least 6-7 months to get the three departments in both organizations, namely personnel, finance and concession contract to work together to set the new direction and business strategy of the NTH.”

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