In the meantime, an arbitration panel has dismissed a request
from CAT to be compensated by Advanced Info Service
(AIS) for revenue losses as part of the mobile concessions
dispute.
CAT was seeking Bt3.4bn (US$112m) from Digital Phone
(DPC), a…
In the meantime, an arbitration panel has dismissed a request
from CAT to be compensated by Advanced Info Service
(AIS) for revenue losses as part of the mobile concessions
dispute.
CAT was seeking Bt3.4bn (US$112m) from Digital Phone
(DPC), a 98.55%-owned subsidiary of AIS, in excise taxes paid
on its revenue between 2003 and 2007.
According to reports, the state-owned company said it lost
about Bt41bn (US$1.3bn) because of the excise tax imposed
on three concession holders: DPC, DTAC and True Move.
But in a notice to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, AIS wrote
that the panel rejected CAT’s request because “DPC was not in
breach of the agreement since DPC has completely made the
payment of the revenue sharing and all debt was therefore paid
in full.
“Therefore, CAT has no right to re-claim for the alleged deficit
amount, including the penalty and the value added tax.”
CAT has reportedly decided to appeal that decision.
True calls for new licences
Cellco TrueMove is calling for the National Broadcasting
and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to issue new
15-year licences for all operators in order to end concession
amendment disputes between mobile operators, according to
reports.
True’s chief executive Suphachai Chearavanont was quoted
saying that his company is looking to negotiate with CAT under
new conditions.
True rights issue
Communication conglomerate True Corp., which owns
TrueMove, is looking to raise Bt13.1bn (US$432m) by issuing
6.7 billion new shares.
The objective is to finance its 3G expansion but also
to reduce its debt load, the company said in a statement
published on its website.
True first announced its recapitalisation plan in December
2008, saying it would sell a total of 10 billion shares at Bt1.95
(US$0.06) each.
In February 2009, shareholders subscribed to about 3.2
billion shares, raising Bt6.38bn (US$210m).
The company is now selling the remaining 6.7 billion
shares, which will still be offered at Bt1.95 each, with existing
shareholders offered 0.865 new shares for each of their
shares. The subscription period runs from 30 May to 3 June.
Digital Phone Company (DPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary
of AIS, has reportedly requested CAT’s permission to test 4G
LTE technology. DPC, whose concession is owned by CAT,
would work with vendors Huawei, ZTE, and Ericsson on its
1800MHz spectrum.
A source close to the matter was quoted saying that
each vendor will need permission from the National
Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
