ICT Ministry: All telecom concessions to be examined
Information and Communications Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said he would examine the concessions of Shin Satellite to see if its development complies with relevant laws.
The minister made his remarks yesterday after meeting top executives of telecom operators, including Sigve Brekke, chief executive of Total Access Communication, Supachai Chearavanont, chief executive of True Move, Nongluck Phinainitisart, president of ShinSat, and Poosana Preemanoch, a former DTAC executive.ShinSat, which was founded by the family of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has operated four satellites: Thaicom 1, 2, iPSTAR, and Thaicom 5. All their concessions were granted by the ICT ministry. The executives said they met the minister yesterday to convey their New Year greetings to him. Sitthichai said they also talked to him about his plan to have their cellular and fixed-line concession contracts probed by the Council of State next month to see whether they comply with relevant laws. Sitthichai said last week he had to seek the opinion of the Council of State about all concession contracts after finding the contracts granted by CAT Telecom to Digital Phone (DPC) and True Move may have violated the 1992 joint state-private investment regulations. The regulations require all joint state-private investment projects to go through a feasibility study and receive Cabinet approval if their value exceeds Bt1 billion. After a complete examination by the Council of State, a panel comprising representatives of the ministry and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will be formed to oversee all the concessions. Usanee Mongkolporn The Nation
|
