AIS limits TOT voice service over dispute

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AIS limits TOT voice service over dispute 
Bangkok Post: 2 Apr 2010
AIS firm on TOT cutback
Arbitration possible in 3G dispute

Advanced Info Service says it is ready to enter arbitration over its network roaming conflict with state concession owner TOT after it began limiting voice services for TOT's 3G subscribers to a maximum of 60,000 from the agreed 500,000 yesterday.

The country's largest mobile operator also warned it would terminate network roaming for voice services completely over the next few months if capacity is insufficient for its own customers.
The roaming limitations have made it difficult for 3G customers of TOT subsidiary Thai Mobile to make or receive calls in the provinces.

AIS chief executive Wichian Mektrakarn said AIS had notified TOT one month ago about the 60,000-subscriber cap, giving TOT time to manage its own 3G customers.

The last notification was two weeks ago but AIS has had no response from TOT, he said.

He added that AIS was ready to initiate arbitration if TOT argues that AIS's network belongs to the state, under the build-transfer-operate concession.

AIS would not alter its position, he said. "AIS will merely allow 60,000 customers to roam voice services on our network," he said.

He said TOT had known for a long time of the problem but had not tried to solve it, despite AIS's attempts to facilitate a solution.

"So we don't know how to help it because we need to retain our network standards to serve our customers first," said Mr Wichian.

AIS recruits new customers every day, he said. This diminishes its network capacity, which prompted AIS to limit customers from other operators.

The 60,000 figure was calculated from Thai Mobile's original 10,000 customers, plus the 10,000 mobile numbers TOT allocated to each of its five mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), he said.

But Mr Wichian is optimistic the move will have little impact on TOT's 3G customers because they use their phones largely for data services via aircards rather than voice.

AIS had earlier proposed that TOT offer data roaming on its 3G network in exchange for voice roaming for TOT's 3G customers, which it presented as a win-win model for both sides.

But TOT rejected this overture, saying it was too soon to allow data roaming for AIS because it would affect the marketing of the five small MVNOs. TOT said it would consider AIS's proposal over the next six months, to give the MVNOs time to sell 3G services.

To date TOT has distributed 340,000 SIM cards for 3G but only 77,000 have been activated.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/telecom/35443/ais-firm-on-tot-cutback