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Wireless Federation » archive for 'CAT'

AIS will be losing its share to TA Orange and Total Access Communication (Thailand)

  • September 3rd, 2008
  • 6:12 am

Thai mobile market is seeing a rise in both the number of subscribers as well as the market competition. With the arrival at around that time of two additional players in the mobile market - TA-Orange (later True Move) and Hutchison CAT that challenges the powerful duopoly of AIS and DTAC. The market is now in need of some rationalisation; regulatory changes will continue to be a big factor in shaping the future market.

Notable highlights of Thailand Mobile Forecast include:

  • Number of total subscribers in Thailand will increase from 62.7 million in 2008 to 71.5 million in 2010. The wireless penetration level will reach 90.5% in 2010.
  • The largest operator, Advanced Info Service, will be losing its market share to Total Access Communication and TA Orange over the forecast period of 2008 - 2010. The market share of Advanced Info Service will decrease from our projected 44.4% in 2008 to a forecasted 43.8% in 2010.
  • In 2010, Advanced Info Service will have the highest ARPU at US$ 8.63 per month in the country.
  • Advanced Info Service will also continue to enjoy the highest EBITDA margin in the country, and will reach 47.8% in 2010.

Integrated CDMA network under one brand, Hutch (Thailand)

  • August 12th, 2008
  • 7:59 am

Thailand likely to have composite CDMA network under one shed, i.e. Hutch.  Currently, Most of the Bangkok area as well as the 25 central provinces have Hutch, as the service provider. Upcountry provinces are serviced by CAT’s CDMA network. According to the service agreement, Users of each brand have had the ability to cross over networks. Thailand’s ICT Ministry has decided to reduce the brand confusion, source reveal.

Comapnies previous plan has got the consent from the Ministry.  The plan is to have BFKT, a Hutch Subsidiary who currently own the infrastructure, transfer ownership of their network to CAT. Cat would then own the entire network and lease it to Hutch, who would be a service provider, would not have to deal with the maintenance and associated responsibilities with owning the hardware. With regard to the details of the Agreement they are still hazy. Talks over pricing  are yet to take place in regard to service agreement.

TOT’s to relaunch GSM mobile (Thailand)

  • August 5th, 2008
  • 6:41 am

According to the Telco’s Chairman Teerawut Boonyasopon, TOT’s plan to relaunch failed GSM mobile operator Thai Mobile as a nationwide UMTS 3G wholesale service provider is likely to suffer delays due to political red tape. Recently, TOT has decided to buy all the shares not owned in Thai from sister telco CAT. They have proclaim the plan to invest a total of $870 million to roll out a network of 5,200 W-CDMA base stations by 2012 and rent capacity to private mobile operators. After the approval from the Finance Ministry, the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Office of the Public Debt Management and the cabinet, TOT will begin to draft the TOR (Terms of References). Also call for the auction of the electronic equipment.

Huawei sues CAT Telecom for non-payment of CDMA project (Thailand)

  • January 11th, 2008
  • 2:00 pm

Huawei Technologies has filed a lawsuit against Thai operator CAT Telecom for delay in the payment for the installation of the THB 7.2 billion CDMA mobile phone network project, reports the Bangkok Post. The company told the civil court that it had delivered the CDMA network to CAT within the period stipulated in the contract. Huawei said the network had met the requirements and terms of the contract and CAT subscribers were actively using it. According to the contract, CAT was required to make payment to Huawei for the CDMA Phase-2 project on 1 February 2007. Despite numerous notices from Huawei, CAT has only made payments representing 25 percent of the overall project value and the long overdue payment is in violation of the contract. Huawei has sought payment from CAT for the CDMA Phase-2 project and requested compensation for incurred interest and damages.

   

Hutch, CAT close to signing consolidation deal

  • June 21st, 2007
  • 9:03 am

Hong Kong-based Hutchison Telecom and CAT are close to signing a deal to consolidate their operations under the Hutch brand.

The contract would integrate the Hutch CDMA mobile phone network in the 25 central provinces with CAT’s new network in the remaining 51 provinces.

The nearly concluded deal is considered a win-win solution for both CAT Telecom and Hutchison in the operation of their 25:75 joint-venture firm, Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia.

Hutchison-CAT has marketed the Hutch service through the network in 25 provinces rented from Hutchison subsidiary BFKT, while CAT provides a similar service via its own CDMA network in 51 provinces.

Under the agreement, the company would lease the consolidated networks under the condition that Hutchison would be awarded the right to market nationwide Hutch service.

He said that CAT would have the sole right to manage the consolidated network.

He added that the agreement did not violate the public-private joint investment law and would be forwarded to the cabinet for approval.

A source said that the new joint venture’s board would include a chief financial officer from Hutchison, an executive from Hutch-CAT, and representatives from legal and financial advisers Baker & McKenzie and Goldman Sachs.

He said a memorandum of understanding would also be signed, under which Hutchison would transfer all of its network infrastructure and equipment for the 25 central provinces to CAT free of charge.

(Hong Kong)