Thai state-owned telco TOT has picked leading local carrier Advanced Info Service (AIS) to launch improved mobile services, according to a report citing ICT Minister Uttama Savanayana. The news comes a few weeks after they reportedly scrapped tower joint venture talks.
Thai state-owned telco TOT has picked leading local carrier Advanced Info Service (AIS) to launch improved mobile services, according to a report citing ICT Minister Uttama Savanayana.
Telecoms regulator NBTC is due to review the deal on 29 October, when it will also consider allowing TOT to use its spectrum for 4G, reported The Nation.
TOT put out a call for strategic partners last year, and other respondents are said to have included True Corp, Loxley, Samart and Mobile LTE. Deloitte was reported to have been running the process.
AIS had also proposed a tower joint venture, but those talks were recently abandoned.
TOT was the issuer of a 2G concession that AIS had until it expired in September, putting the two at loggerheads over the future of the spectrum and its customers.
The Nation said their new partnership ends the animosity between the two companies, which could have potentially seen TOT file a lawsuit to try to stop the country’s 4G auction next month.
The government has reportedly offered TOT a US$141m loan to help smooth out the alliance.
Thailand’s two 4G auctions are set to take place on 11 November and 12 November, having recently been brought forward by a month following more than a year of delay. The country’s spectrum sale had originally been set to take place in August 2014 but was put on hold following last year’s military coup.