Thai authorities suspend 170,000 IPStar terminals deal

10/08/2007 08:15:00 - by Commsday

Thailand’s ICT Minister, Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, has ordered the suspension of a 600 million baht (US$19.2 million) deal under the terms of which TOT is to buy 170,000 IPStar terminals. The minister says the ban is because serious questions still remain to be answered about the plans of Shin Satellite and its parent, Shin Corporation.

The board of TOT is chaired by General Saprang Kalayanamitr, a leading figure in last September's coup d'etat that resulted in the ousting of the Thai prime minister. Word has it that the IPStar deal was due to be signed on Tuesday but the minister felt the timing was "inappropriate" and so he asked General Saprang to postpone it.

snip

web20.telecomtv.com

so now the terminals will be bought from the ministers or generals company or at least from a deal they have a cut.

there is no more merit in this case than politics and corruption