TOT, CAT unions oppose plan to transfer concession revenue to state

The labour unions of TOT and CAT Telecom yesterday filed a petition to Parliament Vice President Samart Kaewmeechai against section 78 (3) of the draft law establishing the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, citing its possible impact on the two state agencies.

Under the draft clause, after the NBTC law has been in effect for one year, TOT and CAT are required to transfer concession revenue - after deducting some costs - to the NBTC, which will then forward the amount to the state coffers.

CAT executive chairman Krisda Kaveeyarn recently said the labour union had agreed to join with the man?agement in defending the state agency's interests and would fight this cause "until the end".

However, telecom industrialists consider it is time for both state agencies to stop relying mainly on concession revenues and seek ways to stand on their own two feet before their private mobilephone service concessions expire.

In 2008, CAT earned combined concession revenue of more than Bt15 billion from Total Access Communication (DTAC), True Move and Digital Phone. True Move and Digital Phone's concessions end in 2013 and that of DTAC in 2018.

In the same year, TOT earned concession revenue of more than Bt18 billion from Advanced Info Service, whose concession ends in 2015.

Early this month, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said he expected the NBTC law to come into force later this year. The process of selecting the 11 NBTC commissioners is then expected to start about the middle of next year, he said.

A House of Representatives committee has finished vetting the draft law, which has been placed on the agenda for examination by the House.