AIS roaming proposal considered on January 29

BANGKOK: -- TOT's board will on January 29 consider the proposal of Advanced Info Service for its broadband subscribers to roam with TOT's 3G network in greater Bangkok.

Wichien Naksrinual, TOT's senior executive vice president for the mobile business, said yesterday that TOT has yet to conclude all details with AIS on the roaming plan.

He is uncertain if roaming could begin on February 1 as claimed by AIS, since both sides are just in preliminary talks.

TOT will also have to seek approval for letting AIS use its 3G network from the Information and Communications Technology Ministry and the Cabinet, he said.

AIS chief executive Wichian Mektrakan said AIS recently informed TOT's senior executives about the plan.

If the roaming could not start on February 1, it might kick off soon after but not much later, he said.

The plan for AIS subscribers to gain access to the broadband wireless service on TOT's 3G network is in line with the existing roaming agreement between TOT and AIS, he said.

Under the new deal, TOT's 3G subscribers would be allowed to roam with AIS' network in the provinces for voice service.

TOT debuted the 3G network last December by selecting five companies to offer a retail service using the network.

TOT's Wichien said some of them have complained that their business would be tougher if they have to compete with AIS in wooing customers for TOT's 3G network.

TOT reportedly allocated 180,000 3G SIM cards to the five resellers, including itself, to provide the service.

Wichien said he understands why cellular operators want to partner with TOT, since it is uncertain when the National Telecommunications Commission could grant the 3G-2.1GHz spectrum licences.

The state enterprise would submit its plan to roll out a new, nationwide 3G network at a cost of Bt20 billion for Cabinet approval as soon as possible, he added.

-- The Nation 2010-01-21

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^^ So it took this long before the release of the formal news.