Deadline set in Thai Mobile dispute
KOMSAN TORTERMVASANA

The Information and Communications Technology minister yesterday set May 26 as the deadline for two state telecom enterprises to resolve the long-standing dispute about their failing Thai Mobile joint venture. He reasoned the CDMA operator could be left behind and even go bankrupt amid the race toward 3G among mobile-phone operators, especially after the National Telecommunications Commission gave them the green light.

Thai Mobile has six billion baht in debts and fewer than 60,000 customers in a market of 54 million mobile phone users.

The deadline was given to the boards of both TOT Plc and CAT Telecom at the ''superboard'' meeting chaired by ICT Minister Mun Patanotai.

The superboard comprises the chairmen of both TOT and CAT and representatives from the Prime Minister's Office and the Finance Ministry, and the National Economics and Social Development Board.

Mr Mun said the deadline could be extended by one week if the dispute could not be settled.

He gave CAT and TOT three options: TOT could take over the 48% stake held by CAT in Thai Mobile, CAT could take over the 52% stake held by TOT, or both could form a holding company to operate the service.

For the last option, he explained that the holding company would be different from the previous concept.

In the model he envisions, Thai Mobile would be positioned as a network provider for the 1900 MHz mobile phone system and interested operators would be invited to lease the network to provide the service.

He also said that access charge and interconnection charge issues should be concluded under the new time frame scheduled in June.

CAT board chairman Satit Limpongpan said CAT still wanted TOT to take over Thai Mobile, provided that the share price for the 42% stake was an acceptable offer. But if the price could not be settled, the third option might be adopted, he said.

TOT board chairman Teerawut Boonyasophon said the legal disputes between the two state telecoms would be settled this month for the sake of the public interest.