CAT And Hutch To Merge CDMA Networks

[george]

CAT to shed 20% of staff at Hutchison JV

BANGKOK: -- CAT Telecom is expected to cut staff in the business group of its joint venture, Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia, by 20 per cent as part of its plan to merge their Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 1-x networks.

Hutchison-CAT's business group has around 1,000 employees.

CAT executive chairman Krisda Kaveeyarn said Chulalongkorn University's Chula Unisearch, CAT's adviser on human-resource management in the network merger project, is looking into the matter. He estimated that around 20 per cent of Hutchison-CAT business group's staff would be given their marching orders.

CAT will then move the remaining staff of Hutchison-CAT's business group to a new subsidiary that CAT will set up to operate and provide the cellular service using the merged network.

The state agency will also ask some of its own staff to move to the planned subsidiary on a volunteer basis, given that they will have to resign from CAT if they want to joint the subsidiary.

The subsidiary will also offer a call-centre outsourcing service, he added.

Hutchison-CAT is joint venture of CAT and Hong Kong telecom giant Hutchison Telecom. It has leased the CDMA network in 25 provinces from BFKT, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison Telecom, to provide the cellular service under CAT's marketing contract. CAT itself has provided the service on its own CDMA network in 51 provinces.

CAT is in talks with Hutchison Telecom to purchase BFKT's network and related assets in order to merge the two CDMA networks. This would enable it to provide the service nationwide. The talks have yet to be concluded.

The state agency intends the CDMA service to be its main income source. While Hutchison-CAT has more than 1 million subscribers, CAT's CDMA network has about 400,000.

Krisda declined to specify the amount CAT has proposed to pay to Hutchison Telecom for the BFKT network and related assets.

Hutchison Telecom has invested about Bt30 billion in the CDMA business since Hutchison-CAT's service debut in 2003.

Besides Chula Unisearch, CAT has hired two other companies to advise on the network merger deals: Allen & Overy as legal adviser and Bualuang Securities as financial adviser.

-- The Nation 2009-11-30

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[nikster]

Can anybody in BKK try if CAT CDMA works there now? That would be so awesome for me...

[Gary A]

So there would be data sharing on 1x but no mention about EVDO.

1xRTT: 50Kbps - 100Kbps Upload and Download (bursts to 144Kbps)

EVDO Rev 0: 400kbps-1000kbps Download (bursts up to 2.0Mbps), 50kbps-100kbps Upload (bursts to 144Kbps)

EVDO Rev A: 600Kbps-1,400Kbps Download (bursts to 3.1Mbps), 500Kbps-800Kbps Upload (bursts to 1.8Mbps)

[nikster]

Hutch CDMA was "managed by CAT" for a while now. I believe they upgraded it all to EVDO Rev. A.

[monty]

Hutch CDMA was "managed by CAT" for a while now. I believe they upgraded it all to EVDO Rev. A.

Unfortunately not!

The majority of Hutch's network is still 1X, with the exception of Pattaya and surroundings, and a few very small area's in Bangkok.

I reckon that would be the first priority, get the Hutch net upgraded to EV-DO ASAP.

So there would be data sharing on 1x but no mention about EVDO.

I assume it wouldn't matter. 1X and EV-DO is a bit like GPRS and Edge. If the faster of the two is available it'll use it, and if not the system will just fall back to 1X.

I doubt they can set the system that Hutch users would only get 1X in an EV-DO capable CAT area (or vice versa)...

All in all an excellent move, it'll become the first proper nationwide 3G equivalent system, giving them a massive head start on GSM/HSDPA networks who still don't have licenses, nor will they have them anytime soon!

[3100034]

Can anybody in BKK try if CAT CDMA works there now? That would be so awesome for me...

Hi i sometimes stay in Lad Prow in BKK and it does not work it try's to hook up and disconects.

i am trying to find someone with Hutch cdma...who can send me settings from programs..then put it in profile 2

Maybe some bright spark knows how to do it ....

And also turn on GPS on unit!

[monty]

Hi i sometimes stay in Lad Prow in BKK and it does not work it try's to hook up and disconects.

i am trying to find someone with Hutch cdma...who can send me settings from programs..then put it in profile 2

Maybe some bright spark knows how to do it ....

And also turn on GPS on unit!

Are you using Hutch or CAT?

Because CAT will not yet work! They agreed to merge, but it's not done yet.

So for now you'll only get internet access in Bangkok when you are actually on a Hutch contract, and only at cdma 1X speeds.

[3100034]

Hi i sometimes stay in Lad Prow in BKK and it does not work it try's to hook up and disconects.

i am trying to find someone with Hutch cdma...who can send me settings from programs..then put it in profile 2

Maybe some bright spark knows how to do it ....

And also turn on GPS on unit!

Are you using Hutch or CAT?

Because CAT will not yet work! They agreed to merge, but it's not done yet.

So for now you'll only get internet access in Bangkok when you are actually on a Hutch contract, and only at cdma 1X speeds.

Using CAT! i know Hutch is slower..but faster than EDGE ....

.ever open up your CDMA program files and take a look at settings...

if you go to Cmotch.com and look at CDMA 680 the product is sold with GPS ( have seen thai's use it on notebook)

and i think 800mhz and 1800 mhz..also 1475mhz L band i think ...

Bu the way the URL link in the Cat CDMA program for software update does not work!

I can send SMS (free) from unit but telecomunications does not work but my friend has older model and he told me that he can make calls from his but i have not seen it do it!

I did see some postings in Phuket about it a year ago! but forgot to copy! silly me!

Caution if you open program file highlite copy and paste ( so you know what original settings before you think of altering anything )

I made that mistake on a EDGE sim and wiped it clean 99%

[Thanh-BKK]

Hi.

I have both, Hutch (post-paid and pre-paid) and CAT (pre-paid). CAT will not connect to the internet in Bangkok while Hutch will not connect when outside of Hutch's area. They do roam on each other as far as voice and SMS are concerned (i can make and receive calls on the CAT in Bangkok and on the Hutch in Chiang Mai, either phone indicating it's roaming by an "R" on the display).

I got the CAT as at the time it was my only possibility to go online in the village outside of Chiang May (before landline wires were laid and ADSL became available) and the speed on 1x was, while not quite fast, still quite ok - certainly better than dialup and a hel_l of a lot better than D-TAC's GPRS/EDGE which just wouldn't want to go there, however the signal strength on D-TAC is very low at that area (AIS has no coverage there at all!)

I welcome the merger if it ever happens...... it is a joke to have two companies sharing one network and then lock each other out on top of it (Hutch and CAT phones are locked in such a way that they won't accept each other's SIM cards.... only certain Samsung models can be unlocked). All Hutch flyers say "CDMA by CAT" so it is clear it's the same network anyway.

Best regards.......

Thanh

[george]

CAT Board approves takeover plan

BANGKOK: -- The board of CAT Telecom yesterday approved in principle the state agency's plan to take over the telecom businesses and assets in Thailand of Hong Kong's Hutchsion Telecom, including its Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 1-x cellular network in 25 provinces.

Although CAT's management declined to disclose the price, a CAT source said it would propose Bt7.5 billion for the business and assets.

Management said CAT would publicly disclose the details of the board decision today, at the same time it proposes the value to Hutchison Telecom.

CAT and Hutchison Telecom have been in talks on a possible deal for a while. They are the shareholders in Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia, which markets cellular service on the CDMA network in 25 provinces under the Hutch brand.

Hutchison-CAT leases the network from BFKT, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison Telecom.

CAT provides cellular service on its separate CDMA network in the country's other 51 provinces. It wants to merge both networks to provide a nationwide service.

The CAT source added that the state agency expected to be able to quickly recoup its spending on the deal, given that Hutchison-CAT has been generating impressive revenue.

Hutchison-CAT's post-paid mobile-phone service has a high monthly average revenue per user of Bt700. Its pre-paid service averages just Bt100.

The company brings in revenue of about Bt4.8 billion per year from about 1 million subscribers.

CAT will also ask Hutchison Telecom to upgrade the network in 25 provinces to the complete Evolution-Data Optimised (EVDO) cellular technology, in order to make it compatible with CAT's EVDO-CDMA network in other provinces.

If CAT and Hutchison Telecom can reach agreement on the takeover deal, the latter is expected to finish upgrading to EVDO technology within four months.

The Bt7.5 billion to be proposed by CAT includes the cost of Hutchison Telecom's network upgrade.

Hutchison Telecom has reportedly invested more than Bt30 billion on CDMA and related telecom businesses in Thailand over the years.

CAT will also submit the takeover plan to the National Economic and Social Development Board, and later to the Cabinet.

CAT chief executive officer Jirayuth Rungsrithong said the agency generated revenue of Bt39.67 billion during the first 11 months, down 2 per cent year on year. Net profit was Bt7.13 billion, down 4 per cent.

Without concession revenue, CAT would have posted income of Bt15.21 billion during the period.

-- The Nation 2009-12-17

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[powderpuff]

I wonder how the union will like that?