In 1994, Thaksin upgraded his mobile phone concession to the new digital technology (as did Ucom). He ventured out into the region by extending the cable TV service into Laos and Cambodia, and winning concessions in Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, and mobile phone Gujarat (ndia). He also moved into another form of concession business under the Communications Ministry. His family and businesses acquired around 10 percent of the shares in Bangkok Expressway Consortium Limited, which built and managed Bangkok's freeways (Ukrist 1998, 71-2). He gradually shed some of the less profitable ventures including the bus radio, peripheral phone services, and overseas cable ventures.