TOT designates new acting president
The TOT board yesterday appointed senior executive vice-president Morakot Thienmontree as the new acting president of the state telecom enterprise, with immediate effect.
He replaced former acting president Pipat Kanthong, who resigned from the position last month.
Mr Morakot said his key responsibility is to enhance the company’s business capability.
TOT’s core projects include moving the existing overhead cables underground by leveraging the company’s conduits on 12 routes under 11 Bangkok roads, spanning 48.7 kilometres.
The conduits under these routes are ready for use and the move to put cables into the conduits could be completed within 30 days if approved.
The project is in line with the government’s policy to proceed with the project at minimal cost.
Mr Morakot said the use of the TOT conduits would also ensure faster operations.
TOT must also come up with potential business in relation to the 5G spectrum range secured in February’s auction, he said.
TOT won four slots on the 26-gigahertz range.
TOT has existing partnership deals with big mobile operators Advanced Info Service (AIS) and Total Access Communication (DTAC) for the use of the state enterprise’s 2100MHz and 2300MHz ranges, respectively.
TOT’s spectrum holding rights end in 2025.
Previously Buddhipongse Punnakanta, digital economy and society minister, told the Bangkok Post TOT and CAT Telecom need more partners to ensure their service capacity.
TOT and CAT plan to fully merge early next year into National Telecom.
The new company will have copresidents for a certain period of time. One will be CAT’s president, Col Sanphachai Huvanandana and the other will be Mr Morakot, said Mr Buddhipongse.
Col Sanphachai’s term at CAT ends in August.