ICT Minister Suggests TOT, CAT Address Overlapping Investment

[webfact]

ICT Minister Suggests TOT, CAT Address Overlapping Investment

The ICT minister suggested the TOT and CAT Telecom boards work together to reduce overlapping investment and maximize the use of available resources.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Anudit Nakornthap said after a meeting with TOT Board Chairman Phanthep Jamratromrun and CAT Board Chairman Dusadee Sinchermsiri yesterday that he will give policies to the board, as proposed by the government.

Earlier this month, the Finance Ministry approved the appointment of new TOT and CAT board of directors.

Anudit said the policy will focus on determining approaches to address discrepancies in management.

The policy will be under the 4-year Smart Thailand master plan and aimed to increase public access to telecommunications by 80 percent, and contribute to the gross domestic product by 90 percent.

He added if the TOT and CAT adopt the policy, they could reduce overlapping expenses by 40 percent over the four-year period.

The ICT Minister cited studies conducted by leading institutes that having strong access to information services and broadband Internet will foster GDP growth by 9.8 percent at most, providing that there are 48 million people who have high-speed Internet access.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-25

[Crushdepth]

Excellent idea, join forces, form a cartel and then SCREW THE CONSUMER (again).

[mahtin]

providing that there are 48 million people who have high-speed Internet access

7,009 million main phone lines in 2010, so a bit unlikely

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html