State-owned TOT has decided not to file a lawsuit against cellco Advanced Info Service (AIS) now as part of the dispute over mobile concession prices, according to local reports.
Instead, it will hand the matter to a state panel for telecom concession…
State-owned TOT has decided not to file a lawsuit against cellco Advanced Info Service (AIS) now as part of the dispute over mobile concession prices, according to local reports.
Instead, it will hand the matter to a state panel for telecom concession amendments, newspapers wrote.
Since the beginning of the year, TOT has been searching for Bt74bn (US$2.3bn) in compensation from AIS for allegedly not paying the agreed price for a mobile concession. Overall, TOT is seeking about US$7bn from several mobile operators for alleged revenue losses.
According to the Nation newspaper, AIS wrote to all twelve TOT directors and the acting president in early February, asking them to withdraw the damages. Since then, five members of the board have resigned for undisclosed reasons.
Yesterday, it was reported that China Mobile and Japan-based NTT Docomo may seek to take control of AIS’s mobile business if it is required to pay the US$2.3bn bill owed to TOT.
In a separate report, the Bangkok Post also wrote that TOT and the other state-owned telco CAT may take legal action against the 2003 Thaksin Shinawatra cabinet regarding the mobile concession dispute. The two companies are reportedly seeking about Bt100bn (US$3.2bn) in damages.
A few years ago, the former government changed its concession regime in order to reduce costs for consumers. But in 2007, the Council of State reportedly ruled that those changes failed to comply with regulations, as they had not been approved by coordinating committees and the Cabinet.