Cat Goes To Court To Stop 3G Licenses

[Crushdepth]

Last week, CAT chief executive Jirayuth Rungsrithong said the state enterprise would file a petition with the Central Administrative Court today against the NTC's authority to grant licences for 3G wireless broadband service using the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum. It will also ask for an injunction against the auction, citing the loss of revenue from 3G licensing. More...

Unbelievable. I say we form an angry mob, light some torches and go pay CAT a visit.

[pitrevie]

I wonder have they read about the Luddites?

[gotlost]

And you really thought that we were going to get 3G this decade?

[ToffeEFCpower]

Yeahhhhhhhhh lets have a rally

[astral]

Please leave the rallies to the Thais.

[billd766]

I wonder have they read about the Luddites?

I thought exactly the same when I read the paper this morning.

It happened about 200 years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

[Crushdepth]

So a taxpayer-funded telco is using public funds to deny the public improved telco services...

[Pib]

It don't make some sense sometimes. I realize CAT will lose revenue by being excluded from the 3G bidding process, but they are still a 100% state-owned enterprise per their web site below which includes the ownership statement near the bottom of the page. But I expect the lost revenue will eventually result in lost CAT jobs which is probably the key driver behind filing the court petition.

http://www.cattelecom.com/site/en/company_detail.php?cat=375

With 100 percent stake of its share capital held by the Ministry of Finance, CAT still maintains the status of a state-owned enterprise.

[SantiSuk]

It don't make some sense sometimes. I realize CAT will lose revenue by being excluded from the 3G bidding process, but they are still a 100% state-owned enterprise per their web site below which includes the ownership statement near the bottom of the page. But I expect the lost revenue will eventually result in lost CAT jobs which is probably the key driver behind filing the court petition.

http://www.catteleco...ail.php?cat=375

With 100 percent stake of its share capital held by the Ministry of Finance, CAT still maintains the status of a state-owned enterprise.

Suing the owner - same same suicide note by CAT management?

[JetsetBkk]

So a taxpayer-funded telco is using public funds to deny the public improved telco services...

AND,

He [CAT president Jirayut Rungsrithong] said the NTC did not have the authority to hold the auction as legislation currently pending parliamentary approval stipulates that authority for licensing for the 21GHz band falls under the purview of the yet-to-be-established National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

...

He said the lawsuit against the NTC was not intended to undermine the auction, but merely to protect the interests of the CAT, which he estimated would lose around 15 billion baht a year when the 3G service is launched because of increased competition.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/telecom/195696/cat-telecom-vows-to-sue-ntc

So basically the lawsuit is to stop competition otherwise CAT would lose money. A lawsuit to maintain a virtual monopoly. Very Thai.

[RKASA]

"15 billion baht a year when the 3G service is launched because of increased competition."

You don't lose money to increased competition, only fail to keep market share when you fail to do a good job at proper prices.

Something a Socialist would never understand.

[petedk]

Just read today in the newspaper that the court has agreed to suspend the auction. Not many details.

Amazing Thailand. They just had the 3.9G fair at the weekend.

[arkom]

Just read today in the newspaper that the court has agreed to suspend the auction. Not many details.

Amazing Thailand. They just had the 3.9G fair at the weekend.

Read that also, funny how even North Korea and Iraq have a 3G network, while here we will be probably be stuck on EDGE for ever.

[Crushdepth]

Well apparently the court has turned down CAT's protest, at least for the moment, so the auction will proceed.

If you can call it an auction, both monopolies and collusion being national sports.

[TheWalkingMan]

I hope the court, when turning down CAT's request, thanked them for the laugh.

TheWalkingMan

[dominique355]

Just read today in the newspaper that the court has agreed to suspend the auction. Not many details.

Amazing Thailand. They just had the 3.9G fair at the weekend.

I heard that the Court has accepted the case but so far has NOT suspended the bidding process. The Court will summon NCT directors to a hearing and decide after.

[selftaopath]

And you really thought that we were going to get 3G this decade?

What a wonderfully unique and backward country.

[selftaopath]

So basically the lawsuit is to stop competition otherwise CAT would lose money. A lawsuit to maintain a virtual monopoly. Very Thai.

Competition? In Land of Scams???? LOL I guess next someone will be wanting voter representation and sanctions for ill gotten gains?

LOL Thailand. No wonder most Thai people smile so much.

[gotlost]

CATS law suit has been rejected. NEXT.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Administrative-Court-refuses-to-issue-injunction-a-30137880.html

Edited September 14, 2010 by gotlost

[nikster]

it's not even about 3G competition. it is, and always has been, about the so-called "concession fees". apparently, all the mobile operators must pay fees per call to CAT and/or TOT - the concession fees. this makes up billions of CAT and TOT's income. billions in free money. if DTAC, AIS, and True have 3G licenses, there's no such concession agreement, so they would move customers to their 3G networks, and not pay concessions.

[someoneelse]

CATS law suit has been rejected. NEXT.

http://www.nationmul...a-30137880.html

The article you quote simply says that the court refused to grant an injunction stopping the auction process. There is nothing about the actual outcome of the suit, this still appears to be in progress.