CAT Plans Sell-Back, 3G Launch

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TELECOM

CAT plans sell-back, 3G launch

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

Management will present to CAT Telecom's board next week the proposal to allow companies to buy their cellular networks back from CAT before their concessions expire.

CAT will also launch its My brand third-generation cellular service for upcountry retail customers in January after it had to scrap the original schedule of this month because of the flooding.

CAT acting chief executive officer Viroj Tocharoenvanith said yesterday that the Information and Communications Technology Ministry had already given the nod to CAT to proceed with developing the network sales plan.

CAT's previous directors also approved the plan. If the new board endorses it, CAT will engage a consultant to flesh out the details and appraise the networks, he said.

TrueMove, Digital Phone Co (DPC) and Total Access Communication (DTAC) are operating on concessions from CAT.

In September, TrueMove offered Bt10 billion for its conventional cellular network but CAT took the view that the price should be higher. DPC has yet to make an offer to CAT.

After TrueMove's and DPC's concessions end in 2013, and DTAC's in 2018, they will have to transfer their concession networks to CAT under the build-operate-transfer agreement.

CAT is also in talks with TOT about avoiding redundant investment in their planned fibre-optic broadband service, in line with the ministry's policy. CAT will install the Bt1.2-billion first phase of the Bt6-billion network, with the roll-out expected in the second quarter of next year.

The My 3G service on the 850-megahertz spectrum will be made available in the provinces in January but only to postpaid users. It will spend Bt300 million on developing the My prepaid service, which is expected to be ready midyear.

Viroj said the other 3G-850MHz service provider, Real Move, was expected to bring out its prepaid service early next year after starting to market its postpaid service in August.

Viroj said True Corp would soon ask for clarification from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) on what exactly the watchdog wants amended in their 3G partnership deals. CAT will inform the NBTC by December 9 how CAT-True will jointly amend the details of the deals, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

[haveaniceday]

SO TOT is in bed with TRUE 3G.

Who is Cat in bed with?