New TT&T CEO maintains strategy
Written by changthai11 on Thursday, September 25th, 2008
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
New TT&T CEO maintains strategy
SRISAMORN PHOOSUPHANUSORN
TT&T Plc, the provincial fixed-line telephone provider, has made no organisational changes under a new leadership. Although TT&T might portray an old-fashioned look in the highly innovative telecom market, executive vice-president Prasitchai Kritsanayungyong said there was no point restructuring the management and marketing strategies.
”We see it’s unnecessary to make any strategy changes as our operational management remained fully intact,” he said.
TT&T appointed Somboon Patcharasopak as new chief executive starting from Aug 8, succeeding president and CEO Prachuab Tantinon.
Mr Prasitchai said Mr Somboon had made it clear that he would continue in the same business direction, focusing on acquiring new telecom licences to expand the group’s businesses and increasing new revenue streams.
Another priority is to resolve all existing disputes with its state concession provider TOT Plc by withdrawing lawsuits against the state telecom agency.
TT&T and TOT currently have four legal disputes with a combined compensation of one billion baht.
Mr Prasitchai said TT&T would continue to move forward with its WiMax and third-generation (3G) mobile-phone projects as planned.
He said the WiMax project was being undertaken by a consortium of TT&T, Jasmine International and the broadband internet arm Triple T Broadband to reduce costs.
Jasmine International, which owns TT&T, has already imported WiMax equipment. Network installation work could begin three months after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issues licences.
The company would take three months to build a network in each province, and a nationwide-network could be ready within one year at an investment cost of one billion baht.
TT&T is introducing a commercial WiMax pilot project in 21 universities in Chiang Rai for e-learning, including Mae Fah Luang University.
Mr Prasitchai also said TT&T planned to apply for a new third-generation (3G) mobile-phone licence to enhance its business synergies.
The company was in negotiations with a few prospective foreign partners, with deals expected to be clinched once the NTC finishes drafting regulations on 3G, its bidding process and licensing fees.
TT&T planned to set up a new company, possibly a 51:49 joint venture, to run 3G mobile broadband services, said Mr Prasitchai.
