Bids Submitted for TOT 3G

Four companies submitted bids yesterday for TOT's 3G wireless broadband nationwide expansion worth 19.98 billion baht as expected earlier.

They are the SL consortium, which comprises Samart Corporation and Loxley Plc, with Huawei Technology supplying the network and equipment; the AU consortium, consisting of Advanced Information Technology (AIT) and United Communications (Ucom); Ericsson (AS Associate); and the Chinese ZTE consortium (a group of ZTE and Forth Corporation).

TOT will announce the qualified bidders who meet the technical and commercial terms within 10 days. An e- auction is scheduled on Jan 28, and TOT hopes to sign the contract with the winner between Feb 15-18.

The state telecom enterprise's 3G project has three parts: 17.44 billion baht for procurement of network equipment, 540 million as a reserve and 2 billion to upgrade TOT's 3G network in Bangkok.

Within 180 days of the contract signing, the 3G service could be available in 13 provinces: Chon Buri, Rayong, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Nong Khai. The remaining provinces would be covered over the next six months.