AIS will co-operate on 3G resources with TOT

       Advanced Info Service says it welcomes TOT Plc's decision to share its resources in providing third-generation or 3G mobile phone services and expects its revenues from 3G to rise 5-10%.
       AIS chief executive Wichien Mektrakarn said the 3G services, operated by its subsidiary Advance Wireless Network (AWN), would help raise its revenue by at least 5-10%. The business is much more lucrative than voice services in which it has to share 30% of postpaid revenue and 20% of prepaid revenue with TOT.
       AIS set up AWN to apply for a 3G licence on the 2.1 Gigahertz spectrum.
       As a concessionaire of TOT, AIS is willing to share its resources and ready to co-operate with the state telecom enterprise but more details need to be discussed.
       For instance, Mr Wichien said that in most cases AIS could allow TOT to share its resources and space rents at base stations. But for some stations where the transmission capacities are full, AIS could not allow TOT to share the resources, he said.
       Meanwhile, TOT board spokesman Ratian Srimangkol said the TOT board would not worry about a dwindling revenue share from AIS if the mobile-phone operator migrated its existing 28 million customers to its subsidiary AWN through attractive promotions. This was because TOT strongly believes that not all of AIS's customers need data services and many would be reluctant to pay more for 3G services.
       They would still adhere to the 2.5G service provided by AIS which is operated under the concession from TOT.
       He also said TOT's scheduled introduction of 3G services would be moved forward to Dec 2 from Dec 5, with the first phase covering Bangkok and having 500 base stations for 550,000 numbers.
       Four telecom operators have shown interest in being TOT's mobile virtual network operators.
       Mr Ratian said TOT was currently in talks as well with DTAC and True Move to share resources for 3G services.
       At the same time, National Telecommunications Commission chairman Gen Choochart Promprasit said a public hearing for 3G licensing regulations and auctions would be held on Sept 28.