(The Nation via NewsEdge) Triple T Broadband, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TT&T, is expected in the next few weeks to award a 2-billion baht ($52 million) contract to Alcatel and Huawei Technologies to build the first phase of its telecom network.
TT&T VP for finance Prasitchai Kritsanayun-yong said that the French and Chinese telecom equipment suppliers would work on its so-called next generation network in Bangkok and its surrounding metropolitan area.
Triple T has set aside a budget of 6 billion baht ($156 million) for the network nationwide.
Prasitchai added that under the deals with both suppliers, Triple T will only pay for the network after it is up and running and starts generating revenue. However, it has to pay the suppliers within two years.
The company said it is eyeing to finish the first phase of the network creation within eight months.
Soon Triple T will start negotiations with telecom equipment suppliers about the second phase of the network rollout, which will also cost 2 billion baht ($52 million).
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) granted the type-3 license to Triple T in February to provide fixed-line telephone and data communications services nationwide, including multimedia teleconferencing.
Triple T has already received 300,000 phone numbers from the NTC to provide the services. Of the total, 100,000 will be for Bangkok and surrounding areas, and the rest for the provinces.
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