TOT and Advanced Info Service (AIS) are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding this month on a partnership to offer third-generation cellular service on the state agency's 2.1-gigahertz spectrum, TOT president Montchai Noosong said.
There are three related contracts under the partnership deal, comprising the MoU, a six-month initial contract, and the official contract. The period of the official contract will end in 2025. They will sign the MoU first.
Montchai said the Office of the Attorney-General recently asked TOT to clarify whether the contract should proceed according to the Public Private Joint Venture Act. He said TOT believed the contract would follow the existing partnership model between CAT Telecom and True Corp to offer 3G on the 850-megahertz spectrum jointly. Therefore, there is no need to proceed according to the Public Private Joint Venture Act.
According to the deal, TOT is expected to net around Bt3.9 billion per year from the wholesaling and resale of 2.1GHz bandwidth. AIS will install a 3G-2.1GHz network for TOT, which will lease 80 per cent of total capacity to AIS and the remaining 20 per cent to other telecom operators