Number of customers leaving AIS doubled Friday: NBTC

[webfact]

ANTI-SHINAWATRA CAMPAIGN
Number of customers leaving AIS doubled Friday: NBTC
The Nation

Customers ditching AIS for another cellular network doubled on Friday.

BANGKOK: -- The anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee had urged its supporters to boycott products and services from businesses affiliated with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin, brother of the current prime minister, founded Advanced Info Service, or AIS, but his family has sold its shares in the firm, according to its most recent report.

Thakorn Tantasit, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommuni-cations Commission, said yesterday that AIS handled up to 1,400 requests on Friday from subscribers wanting to move their mobile phone number to a competitor.

Of the 1,400 former AIS customers, 70 per cent moved over to DTAC and the rest to True. "The number surged from the normal level," he said.

AIS usually receives only about 700 requests a day from defected customers, he said.

On Saturday, DTAC and True sent Line messages to potential customers offering special promotions for cellphone users who switch to their services. The regulator would closely monitor the situation, he said.

"We will try to prevent any adverse impact on the telecom industry," he said.

-- The Nation 2014-02-24

[jaidam]

Thaksin founded AIS did he? I was under the impression that it was created when a hugely corrupt government minister awarded a monopolistic telecommunications concession to an equally corrupt young policeman, and the rest is history. So, seeing as it was effectively "stolen" from the Thai people by Chalerm and Thaksin, the boycott is more than justified.

[blaze]

Reason has left the house.

Certainty and hate and irrational claims-- rumor substitutes for information.

The thrill of being part of the righteous and chosen.

These could be the early days of events that will fuel regret for decades.

We may be about to learn why electoral democracy, so flawed, so vulnerable-- is embraced so passionately by those who have seen how these things turn out.

Edited February 23, 2014 by blaze

[Thai at Heart]

Thaksin founded AIS did he? I was under the impression that it was created when a hugely corrupt government minister awarded a monopolistic telecommunications concession to an equally corrupt young policeman, and the rest is history. So, seeing as it was effectively "stolen" from the Thai people by Chalerm and Thaksin, the boycott is more than justified.

Virtually every thai.pension and commercial saving portfolio has AIS inside. Great work Suthep.

I hope AIS and every thai investor sue the little git for damaging the company and thus causing damage. ITS BEEN SOLD d******d.

[justaphase]

Woo.. 1000 customers a day. Crippling I'm sure to the corporation.

Idiots and dumbasses Tell them to do anything and they'll do it.

"Give me all your cash! That'll bring down the government!"

"ok.."

[Bender]

and i guess in the same time the number of customers joining AIS will triple... yeah you know red shirt also use mobile phone... pointless article!

[blaze]

and i guess in the same time the number of customers joining AIS will triple... yeah you know red shirt also use mobile phone... pointless article!

I don't think it's a pointless article at all. It demonstrates just how irrational Suthep and his followers have become. It also lays bare the myth that the middle class in Bangkok is 'educated'.

[chooka]

The highly profitable company is controlled by the Intouch plc (formerly Shin Corporation), headed by Temasek Holdings, a Singapore government owned agency. AIS is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 5 November 1991 (1991-11-05).^[7] As of 23 December 2011, InTouch plc holds 40.45% of the total shares of the company and Singapore Telecommunications (also majority held by Temasek together) together with Thai Trust Fund and OCBC Nominees (Overseas-Chinese Bank Nominees Singapore) holds a 23.32% stake

How is this going to effect Thaksin, he is probably laughing his arse off but the Singapore government may not be as amused. Nice way to upset your ASEAN partners Suthep you fool.

Edited February 24, 2014 by chooka

[ShannonT]

Look at the other companies Suthep is targeting:

Air Asia, Nestlé, Maggi, Intercontinental Hotels, Oishi.

All owned by Thaksin, Riiiiight ....

Looks like Suthep will soon have billion dollar lawsuits filed against him.

[coma]

Last night I received an SMS message [automated] from AIS in Thai language stating that the company has nothing to do with Thai politics. And that the Shins sold all their shares in the company back in 2543.

[LuckyLew]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Thaksin founded AIS did he? I was under the impression that it was created when a hugely corrupt government minister awarded a monopolistic telecommunications concession to an equally corrupt young policeman, and the rest is history. So, seeing as it was effectively "stolen" from the Thai people by Chalerm and Thaksin, the boycott is more than justified.

Too bad innocent Thai share holders in this company may have to take losses for the actions of Suthep. Comments like this one above shows how much hate people have and is not even Thai.

You align yourself with the devil and sooner or later you are gonna get burned

Buying shares or stocks in any company or organization is a risk ... called gambling, sometimes you win and sometimes your lose. If people cannot afford to lose they should not gamble / invest

[Chao Lao Beach]

Does Shin still have interest in Thai Air Asia ?

[rogerdee123]

This could possibly make some buyers reluctant to buy Shinawatra assets at this particular moment .......... similar but not exactly the same as the reluctance to buy Thai rice at this particular moment.

[geriatrickid]

As a former DTAC customer, I wish all those who have changed and who will pay more, good luck. I was not impressed with the DTAC service when I used it. IMO AIS has better coverage in Thailand, although that probably isn't a factor for most people. I doubt AIS is overly concerned by the loss of a few thousand subscribers. In a couple of months, they will run a promotion and the customers will most likely come back. Mobile service consumers are price sensitive.

[taony]

the sky isn't falling here. They lose 700 in a normal day, the other two big companies probably do as well, its just revolving door. How many did they gain the other day? How many do they normally gain? This will only last a week or two at most and things will be back to normal.

[kartman]

Fine by me soon the shop counter staff taking payments will be in the correct ratio to customers

[stickylies]

and i guess in the same time the number of customers joining AIS will triple... yeah you know red shirt also use mobile phone... pointless article!

I don't think it's a pointless article at all. It demonstrates just how irrational Suthep and his followers have become. It also lays bare the myth that the middle class in Bangkok is 'educated'.

haha, so true, haha educated, haha "hey you where you go!?" haha

[JoeThePoster]

Number of customers leaving AIS doubled Friday: NBTC

Does this mean there will be less dropped calls now?

[Fat Haggis]

I have AIS,DTAC and True Move sims, and only AIS remains a constant.
I wonder how Mr Suthep would feel if the reds started blockading Kho Samui? The only way to get rid of anything to do or formerly owened by Thaksin is for his whole family to stop breathing! And that's never going to happen, If anything was to happen to Thaksin or any of the other Shins, the extremist elements of his followers would still remain, so the problem remains. Ban the PTP, the core members still remain, Suthep needs to realise that no matter who's in Power, he's never going to get rid of the Thaksin Regime.

It seems more like a personal vendetta than a protest these days, I spent 4 weeks there up in Korat and was there for the election, and the majority of the people in the region just did not appear to be interested in what was going on in Bangkok, there was a few billboards higlighting anti corruption, but the world carried on as normal. I am wondering if the populus are just fed up with everything and all the crap from both sides, that they want their lives to carry on and the senseless violence to stop?.

[ginjag]

As a former DTAC customer, I wish all those who have changed and who will pay more, good luck. I was not impressed with the DTAC service when I used it. IMO AIS has better coverage in Thailand, although that probably isn't a factor for most people. I doubt AIS is overly concerned by the loss of a few thousand subscribers. In a couple of months, they will run a promotion and the customers will most likely come back. Mobile service consumers are price sensitive.

Please show me where AIS is cheaper than Dtac. BUT not some that are, I can choose a Dtac charge per minute less than AIS depending on your needs.

Pay low 1st minute cost if you mainly say hello------Pay high 1st minute cost and very low other minutes for longer calls ---depends on your choice, so your anti Dtac pro AIS is not a good reflection on price it sounds to me like most of your posts you are pro government. But it's your choice on which you use.

I find by dialing 1678 then 4 the operator on Dtac is way ahead of AIS with English and pleasant service. I was ex AIS years ago, There customer service changed me to Dtac-----now super service--but again my choice. I also like to think with some European connection feel more comfortable, maybe I am wrong on this point but I think it is fact.

[ginjag]

I have AIS,DTAC and True Move sims, and only AIS remains a constant.

I wonder how Mr Suthep would feel if the reds started blockading Kho Samui? The only way to get rid of anything to do or formerly owened by Thaksin is for his whole family to stop breathing! And that's never going to happen, If anything was to happen to Thaksin or any of the other Shins, the extremist elements of his followers would still remain, so the problem remains. Ban the PTP, the core members still remain, Suthep needs to realise that no matter who's in Power, he's never going to get rid of the Thaksin Regime.

It seems more like a personal vendetta than a protest these days, I spent 4 weeks there up in Korat and was there for the election, and the majority of the people in the region just did not appear to be interested in what was going on in Bangkok, there was a few billboards higlighting anti corruption, but the world carried on as normal. I am wondering if the populus are just fed up with everything and all the crap from both sides, that they want their lives to carry on and the senseless violence to stop?.

That's done it--I am definitely going to stop buying diamonds from his African mines---That will get at him.

[LevelHead]

The simple fact AIS has nothing to do with the Shins now shows how the PDRC is using people for perhaps other reasons.

Take an example as below -

PDRC backers have a meeting and decide XXX company should be targeted because 10 years ago Thaksin stopped at their office to use the toilet.

PDRC backers short sell the stock of this company.

PDRC backers then tell Suthep to go on stage and ask everyone to boycott XXX company due to Thaksin links.

XXX companies stock price collapses.

PDRC backers then buy back their short position and also buy many long positions based on the collapsed companies share price.

PDRC backers make loads of money, thanks Suthep !!

This is why actions like this often have no actual links to Shins, like AIS has no link at all to them now, but its being targetted for "other" reasons.

As has been said AIS is the best nationwide serivce, True and DTAC are pretty awful in my view, and so anyone swapping over wlll soon be going back to AIS once they have been on the other systems a month or two.

All in my opinion of course.

[ignis]

Last night I received an SMS message [automated] from AIS in Thai language stating that the company has nothing to do with Thai politics. And that the Shins sold all their shares in the company back in 2543.

Lucky you... I had 12 yesterday !! SMS message [automated] from AIS in Thai language stating that the company has nothing to do with Thai politics......

Talking to a Thai friend , they also received 12 yesterday.

Edited February 24, 2014 by ignis

[hellodolly]

Last night I received an SMS message [automated] from AIS in Thai language stating that the company has nothing to do with Thai politics. And that the Shins sold all their shares in the company back in 2543.

Well I switched to true for my internet. Nothing to do with Suthep just poor performance by AIS they had a great product and then over sold it.

I have AIS for my cell phone and had not realized what it was all about as I don't read Thai but if they don't stop the Thai text messaging I will seriously consider switching it also. If they are not in any way associated with Thaksin why can they not show me a little respect?

Did the message mention that the deal was set up in such a way as to get the Shins out from under paying tax on it?

Edited February 24, 2014 by hellodolly

[Spartakos]

Square face brand becomes bad for your business, even in politics they don't wear his name with the pride they used to, have not seen him smiling at me as much from election billboards either. Businesses are going out of their way to assure you that they have no connection to him.

[thailandbeachisland]

Maybe a chance for AIS to start thinking that they should improve the ridiculous overpriced offered service...

[Mosha]

People in the village switched to True when 3G started. They are the only ones that are providing a signal to the mobile phones.

[Fat Haggis]

I wish there was 3G in my village it's poor at times that even EDGE struggles

[BWPattaya]

I accept that AIS is now owned by a Singaporean company and understand why some people think that targeting AIS is a daft move but think about it. AIS and Thaksin's name are still linked in many minds. All other companies owned by Shin Corp will lose value as no-one will want to by them in case the same thing happens again. It will make it more difficult for Thaksin to sell and the value of the shares will drop. Perhaps Suthep is wiser than some posters think.

[chooka]

I accept that AIS is now owned by a Singaporean company and understand why some people think that targeting AIS is a daft move but think about it. AIS and Thaksin's name are still linked in many minds. All other companies owned by Shin Corp will lose value as no-one will want to by them in case the same thing happens again. It will make it more difficult for Thaksin to sell and the value of the shares will drop. Perhaps Suthep is wiser than some posters think.

With 35% of AIS owned by Thai trusts, which I assume manage retirement funds and the like of the people who is going to be the real losers. Not Thaksin he is pissing himself laughing as he has nothing tied up in AIS. It is the worker the little people who Suthep says he loves and cares for whilst trying burn their money that may be invested in AIS.

When these people see their money being flushed down the toilet by Suthep I don't think they are going to thank him but they may just turn on him.