TOT's 3G Plan Stalls

[webfact]

TOT's 3G plan stalls

By USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION

TOT's board will have to delay its plan this week to consider approving the 3G-network contract, following the resignation of one more director yesterday.

A TOT source said that when Sayan Satangmomgkol tendered his resignation, a political attempt was immediately made to lobby him to change his mind but he did not relent.

His exit, following the resignations of five directors last week, leaves only six directors on the board, not enough to form a quorum to consider key decisions this week.

The board can hold meetings if it has over half of the 12 directors plus TOT's president.

Now the board has only half of the directors and only an acting |president. Political pressure was reportedly brought to bear on TOT's board to hurry consideration of |the 3G contract, but Information and Communications Technology Minister Chuti Krairiksh has |denied it.

The resignation of directors recently follows pressure from many sides.

Chuti recently urged them to press claims for damages against Advanced Info Service for losses from the AIS concession amendments. AIS informed the TOT board it might consider taking legal action against each of the directors over the matter to defend its business.

TOT's board is waiting for an independent committee comprising representatives from other state agencies to give opinions on how to proceed with the plan to grant a contract to the SL consortium.

Though the e-auction for the project was won by the SL consortium led by Loxley-Samart, TOT has yet to sign a contract, pending examination by a TOT committee of the complaints filed by two bidders. The Ericsson-led consortium and the Forth Corp-ZTE consortium both believe they were unfairly disqualified from bidding.

The SL consortium won the auction on January 28 by quoting Bt16.29 billion - 6.59 per cent below the state enterprise's budget of Bt17.44 billion for the project.

The procurement committee then bargained the price down to Bt16 billion.

The Auditor-General's Office has already clarified in writing to TOT the points brought up by the disqualified bidders.

Another key matter to be considered by TOT's board this week is the appointment of a new president.

Its president selection committee plans to nominate TOT senior executive vice president Anont Tubtiang, who was the chairman of the 3G pre-qualification panel, for the post.

-- The Nation 2011-03-02

[repoulin]

3G will be ready once 4G is the standard.

[NanLaew]

Oh my goodness.... "a political attempt was immediately made to lobby him to change his mind but he did not relent".

Show them the money <deleted>!!!!

Thailand's lack of 3G will be never ending.

[KKK]

6 directors all tendered their resignations within a week! Must have been satisfied with their 3G payoffs and decided to retire or were dissatisfied and are looking for more lucrative positions elsewhere. I wonder which?

Edited March 2, 2011 by KKK

[SomTumTiger]

My 3g has worked fine for a year. Get True and stop your b#tching.

[sbk]

6 directors all tendered their resignations within a week! Must have been satisfied with their 3G payoffs and decided to retire or were dissatisfied and are looking for more lucrative positions elsewhere. I wonder which?

or it might have something to do with this:

Chuti recently urged them to press claims for damages against Advanced Info Service for losses from the AIS concession amendments. AIS informed the TOT board it might consider taking legal action against each of the directors over the matter to defend its business.

[Jimi007]

My 3g has worked fine for a year. Get True and stop your b#tching.

I'm so happy for you, but True doesn't have 3G in Southern Phuket...

[Jimi007]

This is never going to be solved. They have been talking and doing nothing since 2009. Thaivis thread Sept 2009

[bangon04]

Amusing Thailand

[Puccini]

3G will be ready once 4G is the standard.

It's a sad story. Once again, vested interests hinder the country's development.