Facing the loss of the concession revenue that has long accounted for the majority of its earnings, Thailand's CAT is speeding up efforts to transform into a retail service provider.
CAT's new chief marketing officer told the Bangkok Post the company will push for more subscribers to its 3G, fixed broadband and FTTH businesses as it seeks to transition into a private-sector style business.
CAT plans to eventually transform 3G into its core revenue source, but will rely on broadband and FTTH until the 3G operations are mature enough.
The company will launch 3G services this month in five cities including Bangkok, and aims to have 100,000 3G subscribers by the end of the year. It already has some 400,000 users of its CDMA mobile service.
Also on the cards is a revamping of CAT's IDD business into a low-cost service targeting foreign nationals studying or working in Thailand.
In January, CAT reached a 3G capacity sharing deal with True Move, although this is being opposed by the operators' rivals.