TOT stands firm on charges
TOT is still refusing to register new mobile-phone numbers from Total Access Communication (DTAC) and True Move in its network, despite facing a possible fine.
TOT president Somkual Buraminhentr said yesterday that TOT would not include their mobile-phone numbers unless they promise to continue paying access charges. TOT also told CAT Telecom that CAT has to compensate TOT if both of its cellular concession holders exit the access charge agreement. Recently the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) warned TOT that it would be fined Bt20,000-Bt200,000 per day if it declined to incorporate the additional mobile-phone numbers of any operator into its switching system. Both DTAC and True Move informed TOT on November 17 of their intention to convert TOT's access charge into the interconnection charge. All cellular operators on CAT concessions have paid the access charge to TOT as the cost of connecting to other networks via TOT's facilities, while the interconnection charge of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) requires all telecoms to share voice revenues between networks involved in calls. DTAC and True Move want to pay only the interconnection charge and not both interconnection and access charges. DTAC and True Move are in the process of feeding into their networks more than 1.5 million mobile-phone numbers allocated to each of them by NTC. In practice, after a telecom receives new phone numbers, it asks all other operators to translate those new numbers into their system so their network can recognise the new numbers. TOT's refusal to translate DTAC's and True Move's numbers means callers from the other networks to the new numbers cannot get through if their calls are relayed through TOT's network. Users of the new phone numbers can call to any network, whether through TOT's network or through the direct links between DTAC or True Move and the other operators. Users can receive and make calls if the calls are routed through the direct links of DTAC or True Move with the other operators and avoid going through TOT. DTAC CEO Sigve Brekke said he had a meeting with TOT last week to discuss this issue and feels sure that both sides can come up with a practical solution to prevent trouble for their customers "We're optimistic that this will be solved before we start selling the new numbers in the middle of next month," he said.
Usanee Mongkolporn The Nation
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