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AIS 'loses face' over TOT debacle [Bangkok Post, Thailand](Bangkok Post (Thailand) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 3--Advanced Info Service has lost face because TOT failed to provide the country's largest mobile operator with data roaming services on its 3G network as agreed, says its chief executive. Wichian Mektrakarn made the comments yesterday after he and vice-chairman Somprasong Boonyachai met with TOT executives to discuss their roaming agreements. AIS had told its subscribers that they could use data roaming on TOT's 3G network from Monday, but the state enterprise did not provide the service. Mr Wichian said AIS agreed to wait for direction on the matter from the National Telecommunications Commission's board, which will meet today. AIS also said it would delay cutting voice roaming services with the TOT subsidiary Thai Mobile from Feb 8. AIS had earlier said it would submit the notification on Monday. Mr Wichian said the threat would still be carried out if no progress was made on data roaming within the next seven days. The company was still unable to assess the financial cost of data roaming not being launched. But Mr Wichian said AIS's image and credibility had been damaged by the lack of service. AIS did not agree with TOT's decision to seek advice from the NTC as roaming agreements were standard services. The first international roaming agreement was signed in Europe in 1992, he said. "Roaming is a normal agreement signed among local and international operators," he said. "In practice, after a roaming agreement was signed, the operators just notified the NTC later." To see more of the Bangkok Post, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bangkokpost.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Bangkok Post, Thailand Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |