Thai state-owned operator TOT is close to finalizing arrangements for a consulting and technical support agreement with Japan's Softbank.
TOT chairman Panthep Chamrasromran said representatives from the company are flying to Japan to finalise the deal with Softbank, which will see the Japanese operator provide technical help with platforms, technology transfer and human resource development.
A transformation plan will be put to the board for approval by July.
Panthep said that TOT was responding to the competition that will come with this October’s expected 3G auction by setting up three subcommittees: Network and infrastructure sharing, development of existing assets and development of applications.
TOT’s revenue share from AIS of over $940 million a year (30 billion baht) will also end in 2013.
Earlier on 14 June, TOT approved new overland fiber-optic links to Laos-China-Russia and Vietnam-Cambodia.
Panthep said that TOT would be spinning off its tower and transmission operations into a new subsidiary, with TOT owning 49% to allow private sector operators access to existing infrastructure. The rest of the company will be floated in the Stock Exchange of Thailand, expected to raise $1.57 billion (50 billion baht).