SRISAMORN PHOOSUPHANUSORN
TOT Plc yesterday gave Triple T Broadband, a subsidiary of the provincial fixed-line operator TT&T, seven days to stop using ''smuggled'' TOT interconnection points and enter revenue-sharing talks. Failure to do so could mean revocation of the both companies' concession contracts, says TOT.
The state telecom enterprise has also threatened to ask the Civil Court for emergency protection against Triple T Broadband on theft charges if it finds strong evidence to back its allegations.
TOT had already lodged complaints at five police stations against Triple T Broadband.
However, a TOT union member warned that revoking concessions from TT&T would require TOT to compensate the firm for the network that it built and transferred to the state. The book value of the TT&T network is 20 billion baht.
Kittipong Temeeyapradit, the acting managing director of TOT, said the TOT board yesterday ordered Triple T Broadband to provide evidence that it had signed a network rental contract with its parent firm by next Wednesday.
''If TT&T has an honest mind, it should show us the contract and come to talk with us as normal business practice instead of illegally using our switching without any permission,'' he said.
Triple T Broadband was alleged to have been using its parent's network, which belongs to TOT under a build-transfer-operate contract, without prior acknowledgment by TOT.
The state agency claimed that TT&T had no right to allow its network assets to be used by others unless the company pays 19% of its revenue.
It also said that TT&T had not provided statements over interconnection use.
''We are on the verge of further investigation. If we found that Triple T was illegally using any interconnection switching point, we will ask the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to revoke its licensing contract,'' Mr Kittipong said.
At the same time, he added, if an investigation found that TT&T has conspired in any illegal practices, TOT would revoke its concession.
He also said that if the dispute was resolved in the courts, all TT&T broadband customers could end up being transferred to TOT accounts.
Mr Kittipong said TOT loses up to 700,000 baht per core switching point per month from smuggling in 30 provinces. The exact number of switching points affected is under investigation.
''TT&T has ceased the payment of its broadband revenue sharing to us for three years,'' he added.
An executive of TT&T, however, insisted that the company had the right to use, own and maintain its fixed-line network by itself and transfer to others according to the sub-contract attached in the original concession.
But he acknowledged the principle of a revenue-sharing contract with the state agency if the company wanted to use the right.
The executive said TT&T had proposed TOT a rental fee for using the network, but had received no response.
''We are always ready to enter talks with TOT and pay revenue to it,'' he said.
TT&T now has 200,000 broadband customers, served operating under another subsidiary, TT&T Subscriber Services, the company's internet service provider arm.
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