AIS NAMES WICHIAN AS CEO, LOOKS AHEAD TO 3G

       Advanced Info Service (AIS) will try its best to maintain its good performance and customer base this year, despite the revision of the company's revenue outlook for the year to negative growth.
       Chief executive officer-designate Wichian Mektrakarn spoke yesterday, adding that the country's largest cellular operator would move faster in delivering services to the market.
       On Thursday the AIS board of directors approved the appointment of three executives to new posts, to be effective September 1.
       Wichian, who is AIS existing president, was approved to be chief executive officer, replacing Vikrom Sripataks. Wichian will be responsible for leading the AIS business operations and subsidiaries.
       Vikrom was approved to be vice chairman of the executive committee in charge of strategic direction.
       Deputy president Hui Weng Cheong was approved to be chief operating officer.
       Vice chairman of the board, Somprasong Boonyachai, said that the appointments were not the company's reaction to the negative economic outlook but in line with the management succession plan.
       According to an AIS filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday, it has revised the service revenue growth outlook this year down to between minus 3 per cent to zero from the previous forecast of between 3-per-cent and 4-per-cent growth. This is to reflect the weaker-than-expected financial result in the first half and expected slow economic recovery in the second half.
       It also revised down capital expenditure to Bt11 billion this year from the previous Bt13 billion to Bt15 billion. Of the total, Bt6 billion were spent in the first half.
       AIS said the 3G licence will be the key milestone this year, as AIS is working closely on all fronts to ensure the highest possibility of attaining the new licence. It expects the National Telecommunications Commission to auction 2.1GHz-3G spectrum licences in the first quarter next year.
       AIS posted consolidated net profit of Bt4.197 billion in the second quarter this year, decreasing 33.7 per cent year on year, due to the seasonally weak quarter and economic decline. For the first half, net profit was Bt8.765 billion, a decrease of 23.5 per cent year on year. AIS has around 27.9 million subscribers.