Late last month the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said CAT and TOT keep too many three-digit numbers for offering international calling services, and it would decide whether to take some of them back in a month or two.

TOT has reserved 002, 003, 007 and 008, but only 007 and 008 are in use.

CAT has 001, 004 and 009 available, but uses only 001 and 009.

NTC has only one three-digit number left - 006 - to assign to any new overseas calling operator after awarding 005 to AIS International Network last month.

NTC secretary-general Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn said recently that many telecoms had applied for an overseas-calling licence but the NTC has yet to approve any.

Prinya Visessiri, a TOT executive vice president, said last week that the state agency was considering whether it is necessary to hold in store unused three-digit numbers.

He said the 007 and 008 services contributed Bt850 million in revenue to TOT during the first eight months of the year.

CAT president Phisal Jorphochaudom said his state agency was considering whether to turn over 004 to the NTC.

CAT's 001 and 009 services generate Bt12 billion in annual revenue, he said.

The overseas-calling market will get tougher due to the market-opening moves by the NTC but CAT will concentrate on service quality to compete, he added.