AIS At War With TOT, Voice Users Will Be Disconnected On February 1

[webfact]

AIS to disconnect TOT voice users

By Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

Published on January 30, 2010

BANGKOK: -- Advanced Info Service (AIS) will disconnect TOT's 3G subscribers from roaming for voice service on its network on Monday in reaction to the state agency's refusal to allow its subscribers to roam with TOT's 3G network for data-service access.

AIS informed its state concession owner yesterday that it would send a letter to inform TOT about the disconnect on Monday, when it will take place.

AIS informed TOT on the matter shortly after TOT's board yesterday considered its data-roaming request and concluded that TOT had to consult the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) first about permitting AIS subscribers to roam for data service on its network under the licence granted to TOT by the NTC.

AIS chief executive officer Wichian Mektrakarn said that AIS has informed TOT with regards to their network voice roaming deal that AIS has allowed TOT 3G subscribers to roam with AIS network for voice service in the provinces and in turn TOT should allow AIS subscribers to roam with TOT 3G network for broadband wireless access.

If TOT has to consult the NTC on the AIS data roaming request, AIS then will also have to wait for the NTC to give an opinion to TOT on the matter before continuing to provide voice roaming to TOT 3G subscribers.

Wichian added that after the NTC gives its opinion to TOT on the matter, AIS would ask TOT for talks to review their voice-roaming deal.

Currently TOT's 3G network, which covers only greater Bangkok, has around 10,000 subscribers.

AIS has proposed to roam a maximum of 100,000 subscribers with TOT's 3G network. Recently AIS announced that the roaming could begin on Monday.

TOT's board chairman Teravuti Boonyasopon said after the board meeting that the board also asked TOT to study if its 3G network has sufficient capacity to serve AIS's data-roaming request.

TOT debuted the 3G network last December. It has selected five companies - Samart I-Mobile, Loxley, 365 communications, IEC and M Consultants - to provide the 3G service on its network on a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) basis. An MVNO is a company that does not have its own network and has leased the network and airtime of another company to provide cellular service.

Under MVNO agreements, the five MVNOs would test providing the service until March and then TOT would review their performance.

Some TOT board directors suggested in the board meeting yesterday that TOT should further extend the trial period for the five MVNOs and make a decision on the AIS data-roaming request after the end of the extended period.

Teravuti added that TOT gave a chance to all companies, including AIS, to become its MVNO since the start but AIS declined to step in. Therefore, TOT has to take care the five existing MVNOs first.

TOT's senior executive vice president for mobile business, Wichien Naksrinual, said the state agency's 3G network had data capacity of 400 megabits per second, while AIS requested 375 megabits per second. This would leave no capacity for the five MVNOs.

TOT has planned to extend its 3G network to cover major provinces, including Chon Buri, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Rayong, Hat Yai, Chiang Rai and Nong Khai. The network rollout in Chon Buri and Pattaya is expected to be completed in April and the one in Chiang Mai in May.

A source at TOT said that the state agency would finance the rollout by its own cash flow at an estimated cost of less than Bt100 million per province.

In a related matter, the Information and Communications Technology Ministry is expected to submit for the Cabinet's consideration in March the TOT's final business plan to roll out a new nationwide 3G network at a cost of Bt20 billion.

-- The Nation 2010-01-30

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[animatic]

Clueless poo yais playing hardball over their profits,

and the little guys who pay their way, get to pay for NOTHING.

[yabaaaa]

Children in real life, children in business, how i find a lot of Thais

Edited January 30, 2010 by yabaaaa

[anon467367354]

just when you think it couldn't get any more childish, something happens. How can losing face be such a big part of a culture and then they carry on like this?? Everything you thought was normal is, just ain't here. hope they learn to play nicely.

[Crushdepth]

Customer always comes last

[Bilqis]

AIS - who have time and again revealed they have no interest in their customers sem to be using this as a punchball.

How will my 3G internet be affected????

Edited January 30, 2010 by Bilqis

[Jirapa]

Too many abreviations for me? Any idea what language that artical was written in?

[ozymandious]

is anyone elses head swimming with Alphabet soup?

AIS tells TOT talk to the NTC or GTFO is what i got our of it....

[ozymandious]

Too many abreviations for me? Any idea what language that artical was written in?

I hear ya mate

[pontius]

is anyone elses head swimming with Alphabet soup?

AIS tells TOT talk to the NTC or GTFO is what i got our of it....

Yeah, LOLZ! AIS sez <deleted> : TOT u GTFO, rofl, but TOT = wot - NTC ?

[powderpuff]

How will my 3G internet be affected????

Who is your provider?

AIS don't have a 3G network. DTAC don't have a 3G network.

I really thought that was the idea behibd HUTCH. Come in here & build a 3G network.

But the spectrum is yet to be allocated.

Wake up Thai government.

[jambla]

Will this affect True customers?

[lucky2103]

Too many abreviations for me? Any idea what language that artical was written in?

I hear ya mate

TOT = Telecom Organiyation of Thailand

AIS = Advanced Info Service, inc.

NTC = National Telecommunication Commission

[absolutelyBangkok]

My guess is it's not really a decision by TOT to ask NTC first, but some pressure from ... well ... who gains from the conflict?

True, which is a subsidiary of CP, which is one of the richest conglomerates in the country with our PM's father in a very active role ...

Edited January 30, 2010 by absolutelyBangkok

[MHM]

I use AIS but just for phone calls & SMS. How screwed will this bureaucratic idiocy leave me on Monday?

[mitrapaap]

Too many abreviations for me? Any idea what language that artical was written in?

I hear ya mate

If I'm not wrong every abbreviaton was outspelled at least once, and logically, at the beginning of the article. Some people here are really questioning whatever they can find but never their own brain.

[fnprop]

TOT = Totally Obsolete Telecomm (company)

AIS = As If Service (were any concern of ours)

NTC = Naughty Television Censors

[Rainmon]

Children in real life, children in business, how i find a lot of Thais

Seems many on this site love to Thai Bash...

I do business with many Thai's and most are very pleasant and easy to deal with, but it also depends on how you act towards them...

[sedeflonga]

Infantile!

[NativeBob]

Freaky indeed.

[Frederickxx]

Too many abreviations for me? Any idea what language that artical was written in?

I hear ya mate

TOT = Telecom Organiyation of Thailand

AIS = Advanced Info Service, inc.

NTC = National Telecommunication Commission

I thought it was as follows:-

TOT = Too Often Terrible.

AIS = Always Incredibly Silly.

NTC = Not Too Clever

[witsawakorn]

I use AIS but just for phone calls & SMS. How screwed will this bureaucratic idiocy leave me on Monday?

Read it carefully. You won't be affected at all. TOT 3G customers won't be able to make voicecalls on AIS network that's all. I don't know whose network I am on anyway. I have an account with AIS but my phone always says TH GSM in thailand so I have no idea whose system I am on.

[Gobbledoc]

I am wondering how the AIS 3G internet coverage in Chonburi will be effected?

AIS does not have 3G in BKK but does in HuaHin, Chonburi and ChaingMai on the 900Mhz band. Please leave the band (900Mhz -2100Mhz argument to the many other threads on that subject).

PS, What is 'OTOP' in the previous post?

All I can say is I wish AIS 3G was not the only option in Chonburi, Service, just trying to get an honest answer out of them is like flying to the moon. Very frustrating.

[hkt83100]

I have an account with AIS but my phone always says TH GSM in thailand so I have no idea whose system I am on.

Depends on your phone. Mine says AIS GSM (Nokia N82), same SIM card in a Nokia 6230 says TH GSM

[Colabamumbai]

Why aren't we still using the conch shell to communicate....

[JackSterling]

Welcome to MM-land.. Land Of BS and even more BS when it come to the truth... but I love the weather ...

[Briggsy]

Does this dispute have nationalistic overtones AIS (Singaporean) vs TOT (Thai)? Or possibly political overtones AIS (red) vs TOT (yellow)? Or, as somebody else suggested the government getting TOT (state enterprise) to benefit the competition (True) by throwing a spanner into AIS's works?

[khunjamespittman]

AIS - who have time and again revealed they have no interest in their customers sem to be using this as a punchball.

How will my 3G internet be affected????

I am really baffled by your comment. AIS is recognized as probably the best run company in all of Thailand. They have the highest rated customer service organization. This included all the industries with end user customer services.

What specifically is your problem that the rest of the world doesn't see? I, for one, am very satisfied in every way with the service provided by AIS. I have been an AIS customer for over 10 years. I would be interested in what your problems are.

It sounds more like government trying to interfere with private enterprise.

Regards,

[BlackJack]

AIS - who have time and again revealed they have no interest in their customers sem to be using this as a punchball.

How will my 3G internet be affected????

I am really baffled by your comment. AIS is recognized as probably the best run company in all of Thailand. They have the highest rated customer service organization. This included all the industries with end user customer services.

What specifically is your problem that the rest of the world doesn't see? I, for one, am very satisfied in every way with the service provided by AIS. I have been an AIS customer for over 10 years. I would be interested in what your problems are.

It sounds more like government trying to interfere with private enterprise.

Regards,

sponsored by AIS

[siampolee]

O.T.O.P

Is actually a Japanese inspired project that has been running in Japan for a number of years, indeed there is nothing new under the sun.

Regarding the actions of AIS and TOT . Typical of the big company mindset, the consumers will put up with what we give them, not want they want or expect.

Here as elsewhere, it's all about money, who is going to pay the most, however that money is not going into the states coffers if you get my drift !!!!