ICT given more time to review changes to telecom concession contracts

BANGKOK, 9 March 2010 (NNT) – The Cabinet today voted in favor of a time extension for the examination of the amendments to concession contracts between TOT and CAT Telecom as requested by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Deputy Government Spokesman, MD Phumin Lithiraprasert, today told the press that the Cabinet has given the green light to an extension of the time frame for exploring changes to concession agreements between TOT and CAT Telecom in accordance with the Public-Private Joint Venture Act. The ICT previously proposed a 90-day time frame to complete the task.

The ministry has been tasked with reviewing four matters related to the recent asset seizure trial, namely the contract provisions CAT’s satellite project, the conversion of mobile phone operators’ concession fees into excise tax, the change of a telecom concession between Advanced Info Service (AIS) and TOT Public Company Limited which resulted in a reduction of the latter’s revenue share on prepaid services and the amendment of a telecom concession contract involving network roaming service fees, which led to the loss of revenue for TOT and CAT Telecom