CAT Wants TOT To Use CDMA Network

CAT wants TOT to use CDMA network

BANGKOK: -- The board of CAT Telecom has proposed that the Information and Communications Technology Ministry ask TOT to utilise the facilities of its Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 1-x cellular network in 52 provinces in connection with TOT's plan to roll out a 3G wireless broadband network nationwide.

A CAT source said the ministry had agreed in principle and was ready to turn the proposal into policy to promote collaboration between the two state agencies under its umbrella.

The source said the proposal would benefit both agencies. TOT would not have to waste time seeking new locations or create new facilities to install its 3G base stations, which would enable it to quickly roll out its 3G network. CAT, meanwhile, would use the network facilities' rental fee to pay TOT overdue network access charges of Bt1 billion.

The access charge is the fee telecom operators pay to TOT for using its network facilities to connect to different networks.

The source added that CAT would charge an appropriate rate for the facilities' rent to TOT, as both are under the ICT Ministry.

CAT's CDMA network has 1,600 base stations.

In a related matter, ICT Minister Ranongruk Suwanchawee is expected to have an informal meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva this week to clear their disagreement on the TOT's plan to roll out the 3G network at a cost of more than Bt20 billion.

While the minister wants TOT to hasten the roll-out, Abhisit continues to insist it should wait for the National Telecommunications Commission to finalise its rules on auctioning four 3G-2.1GHz spectrum licences. If TOT rushes the roll-out plan, it might later be affected by the NTC's final auction rules, the PM argues.

In a separate matter, CAT will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Provincial Electricity Authority today to jointly utilise the PEA's fibre-optic communications network to provide broadband Internet access service for homes.

-- The Nation 2009-11-23

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