Total Access Communication (DTAC) yesterday kicked off a non-commercial trial of a third-generation wireless broadband service on its existing 850-megahertz spectrum.
The move is aimed at preparing itself for the expected granting of 3G licences.
CEO Tore Johnsen said the main purpose of the "DTAC Mobile Internet on 3G" trial was not to test the well-proven 3G technology, but rather to ensure the company's operations were prepared for upcoming commercial operations, especially the granting of new 3G licences.
The area covered by the initial phase of the trial includes Chulalongkorn University, Pantip Plaza, MBK Centre, Siam Square, the Samyan area and Chamchuri Square, using 18 3G base stations. The coverage area will soon be expanded to other areas of Bangkok from an additional 18 base stations.
DTAC will start giving out free 3G air cards and free airtime today to 2,000 selected users of laptop computers who will access the wireless broadband Internet service via the 3G network throughout the trial period, which runs until December 31.
The trial will cost Bt100 million, for
network development and marketing activities.
Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Move have already test-launched 3G services on their existing spectra, ahead of DTAC.
AIS began a trial on its existing 900MHz spectrum in Chiang Mai in June 2008 and later in central Bangkok, while True Move recently launched a 3G trial on its 800MHz spectrum in central Bangkok and Hua Hin.
During its trial, DTAC plans to conduct a customer survey to gather feedback on customer satisfaction, giving it better insight into customer behaviour and demands and assisting in the design of better products and services.
DTAC cited studies by the National Statistical Office, TOT and the Boston Consulting Group that found the number of broadband subscribers in Thailand rose from 200,000 in 2000 to 1.8 million last year. However, it said broadband use was still limited by coverage from fixed-line networks that did not reach households in remote areas.
DTAC has said many times it wants to launch 3G services on both the 850MHz and 2.1-gigahertz spectra.
The National Telecommunications Commission plans to auction four licences on the 2.1GHz 3G spectrum but has yet to set a date. Telecommunications-industry sources believe the auction will take place either late this year or early next year.
DTAC is also waiting for a state committee set up under Article 22 of the Public-Private Joint Venture Act to approve the commercial launch of its 3G service on the 850MHz spectrum. Earlier, CAT Telecom, which owns DTAC's mobile concession, said it expected approval to be given in this year's second quarter.
Meanwhile, Johnsen said he believed Thailand's economy would pick up slightly in the second half of the year but cautioned a full recovery would take time.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Post office aims for B700m
Thailand Post says it will try to achieve its target of 700 million baht in profit this year, even though domestic politics and the global recession will affect international transport.
Ormsin Cheewaplueck, the president of Thailand Post, said that half-year performance had fallen short of the original target because of political turmoil and the recession.
Total revenues were 7.39 billion baht,with communications taking the highest share at 74%, with 9.9% coming from logistics,6.4% from financial business and 6% from retail.
He said that although the 700-millionbaht target could be hard to achieve, he was confident the second half would generate at least 350 million baht in profit. The state enterprise earned 263 million baht in profit in the first half.
Thailand Post plans to increase rev-enues in the short term by extending service hours at its service points and mobile service points in industrial estates as well as by opening more outlets.
It also plans to sell rare stamps, install more postboxes and service points and install more satellite dishes.
For the long term, he said, the company would focus on personnel improvement, as it has 21,000 staff, and upgrading its IT system.
Thailand Post entered its seventh year of operation after separating itself from the Communications Authority of Thailand in 2003. The postal service was losing an average of 1.2 billion baht a year before separation.
After separation, Thailand Post has grown with net profit increasing yearly since 2004 from 229 million baht to 1.78 billion in 2007. Last year it earned 972 million baht in profit.
Ormsin Cheewaplueck, the president of Thailand Post, said that half-year performance had fallen short of the original target because of political turmoil and the recession.
Total revenues were 7.39 billion baht,with communications taking the highest share at 74%, with 9.9% coming from logistics,6.4% from financial business and 6% from retail.
He said that although the 700-millionbaht target could be hard to achieve, he was confident the second half would generate at least 350 million baht in profit. The state enterprise earned 263 million baht in profit in the first half.
Thailand Post plans to increase rev-enues in the short term by extending service hours at its service points and mobile service points in industrial estates as well as by opening more outlets.
It also plans to sell rare stamps, install more postboxes and service points and install more satellite dishes.
For the long term, he said, the company would focus on personnel improvement, as it has 21,000 staff, and upgrading its IT system.
Thailand Post entered its seventh year of operation after separating itself from the Communications Authority of Thailand in 2003. The postal service was losing an average of 1.2 billion baht a year before separation.
After separation, Thailand Post has grown with net profit increasing yearly since 2004 from 229 million baht to 1.78 billion in 2007. Last year it earned 972 million baht in profit.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
NOT ENOUGH IPHONE 3GS PHONES SENT OVER TO MEET LOCAL DEMAND
Many customers who booked iPhone 3GS mobile phones will have to wait until the middle of next month because the first shipment from Apple was not enough to go around.
Papon Ratanachaikanont, assistant to the president and CEO of True Move as well as deputy group chief commercial officer of True Corp, said yesterday that more than 10,000 phones had been pre-ordered but Apple only supplied 3,500 of the latest models in the first lot.
The first batch will go to those who had specified tomorrow as the delivery date, though those expecting to pick their phones up from Saturday to next Thursday will have to wait for the next lot.
The new lot is expected to arrive some time next week and should be available from the second week of next month. However, Papon could not say how many 3GS phones would be delivered in the second lot.
Customers having to wait for the second lot will be receive a free iPhone leather case as a kind of consolation for the delayed delivery.
There some 3,500 customers waiting to pick up their phones tomorrow and most of them are in Bangkok.
True Move allowed people to reserve the devices from August 5-24 for a deposit of Bt2,000. The customers could set a date for pick up between August 28 and September 3. The 16-gigabyte 3GS phone costs Bt24,500, while the 32GB model goes for Bt28,500.
Papon said several other countries, such as Australia, Taiwan and Singapore, have also experienced the same shortage mainly due to the higher-than-expected demand for the 3GS model, which is a newer version of the iPhone 3G phone.
Those who want to cancel their order and take their Bt2,000 deposit back can do so at all True Move shops from Tuesday onward.
The supply for local consumers should stabilise next month, Papon said.
True Move should be able to make the phones available at all its shops nationwide on September 11.
Papon is not concerned that the supply shortage would have people to rushing to purchase smuggled 3GS phones.
He said pre-bookings for the 3GS model was three times that of the 3G iPhones early this year.
True Move is the exclusive authorised cellular service provider for 3G iPhones here and expects sales of the 3GS iPhone model to exceed 50,000 units this year.
Papon Ratanachaikanont, assistant to the president and CEO of True Move as well as deputy group chief commercial officer of True Corp, said yesterday that more than 10,000 phones had been pre-ordered but Apple only supplied 3,500 of the latest models in the first lot.
The first batch will go to those who had specified tomorrow as the delivery date, though those expecting to pick their phones up from Saturday to next Thursday will have to wait for the next lot.
The new lot is expected to arrive some time next week and should be available from the second week of next month. However, Papon could not say how many 3GS phones would be delivered in the second lot.
Customers having to wait for the second lot will be receive a free iPhone leather case as a kind of consolation for the delayed delivery.
There some 3,500 customers waiting to pick up their phones tomorrow and most of them are in Bangkok.
True Move allowed people to reserve the devices from August 5-24 for a deposit of Bt2,000. The customers could set a date for pick up between August 28 and September 3. The 16-gigabyte 3GS phone costs Bt24,500, while the 32GB model goes for Bt28,500.
Papon said several other countries, such as Australia, Taiwan and Singapore, have also experienced the same shortage mainly due to the higher-than-expected demand for the 3GS model, which is a newer version of the iPhone 3G phone.
Those who want to cancel their order and take their Bt2,000 deposit back can do so at all True Move shops from Tuesday onward.
The supply for local consumers should stabilise next month, Papon said.
True Move should be able to make the phones available at all its shops nationwide on September 11.
Papon is not concerned that the supply shortage would have people to rushing to purchase smuggled 3GS phones.
He said pre-bookings for the 3GS model was three times that of the 3G iPhones early this year.
True Move is the exclusive authorised cellular service provider for 3G iPhones here and expects sales of the 3GS iPhone model to exceed 50,000 units this year.
Thailand Post looks set to miss profit target
Thailand Post is likely to miss its profit goal of Bt700 million this year, due to the deteriorating economy.
"Thailand Post will have to seek new revenue sources and continue to cut operating costs," president Ormsin Chivaprueck said yesterday.
The state enterprise had expected net profit to reach Bt900 million this year before recently revising the figure downward to Bt700 million.
But Ormsin yesterday said it would earn Bt350 million in the second half after eking out a net profit of Bt263 million in the first half.
Last year it made Bt972 million.
This year it projects total revenue of Bt15 billion, down from Bt16 billion last year. In the first half, revenue was Bt7.37 billion.
The state enterprise has witnessed declining numbers of delivered mail, while the Internet has become a common communications choice of people and has stolen some of its mail business.
More than 74 per cent of its revenue comes from the communications business, which includes mail delivery service, while the second main contributor is its logistics service.
Of first-half revenue, Bt5.47 billion was generated by the communications business and Bt729 million by the logistics business.
Thailand Post was the postal unit of the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) before it was split off and corporatised in August 2003, while CAT became CAT Telecom.
It has more than 20,000 employees and 1,000 branches nationwide.
Since gaining its own identity, Thailand Post has kept launching services to boost revenues, ranging from logistics to utility-bill payment at its post offices and also food delivery.
"Thailand Post will have to seek new revenue sources and continue to cut operating costs," president Ormsin Chivaprueck said yesterday.
The state enterprise had expected net profit to reach Bt900 million this year before recently revising the figure downward to Bt700 million.
But Ormsin yesterday said it would earn Bt350 million in the second half after eking out a net profit of Bt263 million in the first half.
Last year it made Bt972 million.
This year it projects total revenue of Bt15 billion, down from Bt16 billion last year. In the first half, revenue was Bt7.37 billion.
The state enterprise has witnessed declining numbers of delivered mail, while the Internet has become a common communications choice of people and has stolen some of its mail business.
More than 74 per cent of its revenue comes from the communications business, which includes mail delivery service, while the second main contributor is its logistics service.
Of first-half revenue, Bt5.47 billion was generated by the communications business and Bt729 million by the logistics business.
Thailand Post was the postal unit of the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) before it was split off and corporatised in August 2003, while CAT became CAT Telecom.
It has more than 20,000 employees and 1,000 branches nationwide.
Since gaining its own identity, Thailand Post has kept launching services to boost revenues, ranging from logistics to utility-bill payment at its post offices and also food delivery.
US broadband speeds still lagging
The United States ranks 28th in the world in average Internet connection speed and is not making significant progress in building a faster network, according to a report released on Tuesday.
The report by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) said the average download speed in South Korea is 20.4 megabits per second (mbps)- four times faster than the US average of 5.1 mbps.
"Japan trails South Korea with an average of 15.8 mbps followed by Sweden at 12.8 mbps and the Netherlands at 11.0 mbps," the report said.
It said tests conducted by speedmatters.org found the average US download speed had improved by only nine-tenths of a megabit per second between 2008 and 2009- from 4.2 mbps to 5.1 mbps.
"The US has not made significant improvement in the speeds at which residents connect to the Internet," the report said."Our nation continues to fall far behind other countries."
"People in Japan can upload a highdefinition video in 12 minutes, compared to a grueling 2.5 hours at the US average upload speed," the report said.
It said 18% of those who took a US speed test recorded download speeds that were slower than 768 kilobits per second, which does not even qualify as basic broadband, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
And 64% connected at up to 10 mbps,19% connected at speeds greater than 10 mbps and two percent exceeded 25 mbps.
The United States was ranked 20th in broadband penetration in a survey of 58 countries released earlier this year by Boston-based Strategy Analytics.
South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, Denmark and Taiwan were the top five countries listed in terms of access to high-speed Internet.
US President Barack Obama has pledged to put broadband in every home and the FCC has embarked on an ambitious project to bring high-speed Internet access to every corner of the United States.
According to the CWA report, the fastest download speeds in the United States are in the northeastern parts of the country while the slowest are in states such as Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
The report by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) said the average download speed in South Korea is 20.4 megabits per second (mbps)- four times faster than the US average of 5.1 mbps.
"Japan trails South Korea with an average of 15.8 mbps followed by Sweden at 12.8 mbps and the Netherlands at 11.0 mbps," the report said.
It said tests conducted by speedmatters.org found the average US download speed had improved by only nine-tenths of a megabit per second between 2008 and 2009- from 4.2 mbps to 5.1 mbps.
"The US has not made significant improvement in the speeds at which residents connect to the Internet," the report said."Our nation continues to fall far behind other countries."
"People in Japan can upload a highdefinition video in 12 minutes, compared to a grueling 2.5 hours at the US average upload speed," the report said.
It said 18% of those who took a US speed test recorded download speeds that were slower than 768 kilobits per second, which does not even qualify as basic broadband, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
And 64% connected at up to 10 mbps,19% connected at speeds greater than 10 mbps and two percent exceeded 25 mbps.
The United States was ranked 20th in broadband penetration in a survey of 58 countries released earlier this year by Boston-based Strategy Analytics.
South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, Denmark and Taiwan were the top five countries listed in terms of access to high-speed Internet.
US President Barack Obama has pledged to put broadband in every home and the FCC has embarked on an ambitious project to bring high-speed Internet access to every corner of the United States.
According to the CWA report, the fastest download speeds in the United States are in the northeastern parts of the country while the slowest are in states such as Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
USPS seeks 30,000 job reductions
The US Postal Service,the country's second-largest employer,offered buyouts on Tuesday to quickly slash up to 30,000 jobs as it grapples with declining mail volume and embraces more automation.
The incentive for voluntary resignations and early retirements among a pool of veteran workers by the end of September "is part of a drive to cut costs by $6 billion this fiscal year," the Postal Service said.
"This decision reflects our desire to provide a fair and equitable opportunity for some of our longest-serving employees," said Anthony Vegliante, chief human resources officer and executive vice president.
"It is important to the Postal Service that we take appropriate measures to address our current financial situation,"he added.
The majority of those offered $15,000 to leave as part of an agreement with unions - up to 30,000 people - work in mail processing facilities. The Postal Service hopes to save up to $500 million from the move.
The job cut target is similar in scope to employment reductions by US automakers and certain banks, and comes amid signs that the recession may have bottomed out.
The Postal Service, which is a quasigovernment agency that relies on postage sales and revenue from other products and services to fund operations, reported a $2.4 billion loss in the quarter ended June 30.
The agency has wracked up net losses in 11 of the past 12 fiscal quarters.
Traditional mail volume has been fallen sharply as e-mail has proliferated along with online services such as electronic bill payment, officials have said.
The Postal Service has 656,000 career employees, second behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc which has more than 1.4 million workers in the United States.
Other cost cuts this year have included decisions to close facilities, pare construction, a nationwide hiring freeze,and selling underutilised and unused facilities.
The Postal Service also competes with US package delivery giants UPS Inc and FedEx Corp for some services as well as other companies.
The incentive for voluntary resignations and early retirements among a pool of veteran workers by the end of September "is part of a drive to cut costs by $6 billion this fiscal year," the Postal Service said.
"This decision reflects our desire to provide a fair and equitable opportunity for some of our longest-serving employees," said Anthony Vegliante, chief human resources officer and executive vice president.
"It is important to the Postal Service that we take appropriate measures to address our current financial situation,"he added.
The majority of those offered $15,000 to leave as part of an agreement with unions - up to 30,000 people - work in mail processing facilities. The Postal Service hopes to save up to $500 million from the move.
The job cut target is similar in scope to employment reductions by US automakers and certain banks, and comes amid signs that the recession may have bottomed out.
The Postal Service, which is a quasigovernment agency that relies on postage sales and revenue from other products and services to fund operations, reported a $2.4 billion loss in the quarter ended June 30.
The agency has wracked up net losses in 11 of the past 12 fiscal quarters.
Traditional mail volume has been fallen sharply as e-mail has proliferated along with online services such as electronic bill payment, officials have said.
The Postal Service has 656,000 career employees, second behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc which has more than 1.4 million workers in the United States.
Other cost cuts this year have included decisions to close facilities, pare construction, a nationwide hiring freeze,and selling underutilised and unused facilities.
The Postal Service also competes with US package delivery giants UPS Inc and FedEx Corp for some services as well as other companies.
Ill wind blows no good
Morakot was no Emerald; it was an ill wind that whipped up seas and cut or damaged six separated fibre-optic cables carrying Internet traffic to Thailand; the typhoon itself never hit Thailand, but while it killed an estimated 500 Taiwanese,Morakot caused deep-sea landslides that severed three cables and disrupted three others, including the SWM-3 (Southeast Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 3)and both APCN (Asia Pacific Cable Network) that carry Internet and telephone traffic to and from Thailand; the Net slowed noticeably, but picked up after a couple of days when engineers managed to quickly repair the APCN2 cable between Singapore and Malaysia, while traffic was re-routed to other systems.
The top three yuppiephone networks announced a convoluted "solution" to SMS spam, now estimated at nine million annoyances a day; starting next Monday, if you get an unwanted commercial message on your mobile phone,call your network's anti-spam centre,explained what happened, and they will try to block any other calls from the spammer - the AIS number to call is 1175,DTAC is 1678 and True Move is1331, and the theory is that the 30-million-baht software they have installed and the highly trained staff they have hired will combine to block the spam across all three networks; Thana Thienachariya, chief commercial officer at DTAC, said blocking spam would cut revenue at all three yuppiephone firms, who have profited by selling SMS time in blocks to advertisers; in other words, he already knows where the calls are coming from.
Bangkok telephone provider True Corp and their yuppiephone subsidiary True Move began advertising "revolutionary" international phone rates of "only" three baht a minute to mostcalled countries; the rate, cheap at half the price, is about half what the telecoms duopoly of your TOT and your Cattelecom charge, but about twice the cost of the most popular long-distance specialists like DeeDial and ZayHi ; the True rates only will last until New Year's Eve.
If corporate diversification is a sign that the recession is ending, then we got good news from Delta Electronics (Thailand); president Henry Shieh said the Taiwan-based electronics firm is about to acquire solar-power equipment makers in the US and Europe to get out of traditional electric sources and into larger technology areas; he bragged that,"Our cash on hand of over 8 billion baht also supports our investments,"and while Thailand plants are running at only 65 percent capacity making fans and converters, profits in the second quarter were still a healthy 301 million baht.
Also upbeat: CEO Watchai Vilailuck ofSamart Corp , who said business was looking up, with revenues increasing by 17 percent year on year in the second quarter to 4.44 billion baht; although profit remained stagnant at just under 125 million, Mr Watchai said he sees clear economic skies ahead, and expects to introduce 20 new yuppiephone handsets before New Year's Eve to feed what he is certain is growing demand in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Cambodia, as well as Thailand.
Not everyone was bragging and sunny; No 1 yuppiephone firm Advanced Info Service of Shingapore announced major changes at the very top of the firm's food chain to try to adjust to negative growth and increased competition; AIS tried to spin the changes as restructuring, but in fact the major changes were personnel; Singaporean Hui Weng Cheong was promoted from deputy president to the newly created position of chief operating officer, where he will take over marketing, customer management and handset distribution;president Wichian Mektrakarn was moved to CEO and the president's position was dissolved; AIS has recently realistically changed its revenue target from 4 percent growth to minus-3 percent, bizarrely blaming oil prices and the flu pandemic; chairman Somprasong Boonyachai said you should be ashamed of yourself for thinking the changes at the top were because of poor operating results, it's just all part of a careful,long-planned succession plan.
The company formerly known as Shin Satellite insisted it will break out of its habit of losses and break even this year,thanks to higher bandwidth sales from its iPSTAR broadband satellite; it's not all rosy for Thaicom , however; Tanadit Charoenchan, executive president of vice, revealed that,"We expect iPSTAR's bandwidth usage to reach 15 percent this year, up from 10 percent currently."
Then there is Grammy Entertainment , which reported no harm, no foul in its first-half results, a profit of 314.2 million baht on slightly increased revenue of 3.95 billion, boosted almost exclusively by TV programming, while music sales fell four per cent.
Finally, consider the case of bank employee Nawanit Noichana,; he posted a message on the Sanook.com forums soliciting readers to have sex with a certain Ms Som, and providing her real phone number; it was all a prank or something worse, because Ms Som was certainly not that kind of woman; the Criminal Court judge found him guilty under the Computer Crime Act, but then sentenced him to just 12 hours of community service and a one-year suspended imprisonment.
The top three yuppiephone networks announced a convoluted "solution" to SMS spam, now estimated at nine million annoyances a day; starting next Monday, if you get an unwanted commercial message on your mobile phone,call your network's anti-spam centre,explained what happened, and they will try to block any other calls from the spammer - the AIS number to call is 1175,DTAC is 1678 and True Move is1331, and the theory is that the 30-million-baht software they have installed and the highly trained staff they have hired will combine to block the spam across all three networks; Thana Thienachariya, chief commercial officer at DTAC, said blocking spam would cut revenue at all three yuppiephone firms, who have profited by selling SMS time in blocks to advertisers; in other words, he already knows where the calls are coming from.
Bangkok telephone provider True Corp and their yuppiephone subsidiary True Move began advertising "revolutionary" international phone rates of "only" three baht a minute to mostcalled countries; the rate, cheap at half the price, is about half what the telecoms duopoly of your TOT and your Cattelecom charge, but about twice the cost of the most popular long-distance specialists like DeeDial and ZayHi ; the True rates only will last until New Year's Eve.
If corporate diversification is a sign that the recession is ending, then we got good news from Delta Electronics (Thailand); president Henry Shieh said the Taiwan-based electronics firm is about to acquire solar-power equipment makers in the US and Europe to get out of traditional electric sources and into larger technology areas; he bragged that,"Our cash on hand of over 8 billion baht also supports our investments,"and while Thailand plants are running at only 65 percent capacity making fans and converters, profits in the second quarter were still a healthy 301 million baht.
Also upbeat: CEO Watchai Vilailuck ofSamart Corp , who said business was looking up, with revenues increasing by 17 percent year on year in the second quarter to 4.44 billion baht; although profit remained stagnant at just under 125 million, Mr Watchai said he sees clear economic skies ahead, and expects to introduce 20 new yuppiephone handsets before New Year's Eve to feed what he is certain is growing demand in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Cambodia, as well as Thailand.
Not everyone was bragging and sunny; No 1 yuppiephone firm Advanced Info Service of Shingapore announced major changes at the very top of the firm's food chain to try to adjust to negative growth and increased competition; AIS tried to spin the changes as restructuring, but in fact the major changes were personnel; Singaporean Hui Weng Cheong was promoted from deputy president to the newly created position of chief operating officer, where he will take over marketing, customer management and handset distribution;president Wichian Mektrakarn was moved to CEO and the president's position was dissolved; AIS has recently realistically changed its revenue target from 4 percent growth to minus-3 percent, bizarrely blaming oil prices and the flu pandemic; chairman Somprasong Boonyachai said you should be ashamed of yourself for thinking the changes at the top were because of poor operating results, it's just all part of a careful,long-planned succession plan.
The company formerly known as Shin Satellite insisted it will break out of its habit of losses and break even this year,thanks to higher bandwidth sales from its iPSTAR broadband satellite; it's not all rosy for Thaicom , however; Tanadit Charoenchan, executive president of vice, revealed that,"We expect iPSTAR's bandwidth usage to reach 15 percent this year, up from 10 percent currently."
Then there is Grammy Entertainment , which reported no harm, no foul in its first-half results, a profit of 314.2 million baht on slightly increased revenue of 3.95 billion, boosted almost exclusively by TV programming, while music sales fell four per cent.
Finally, consider the case of bank employee Nawanit Noichana,; he posted a message on the Sanook.com forums soliciting readers to have sex with a certain Ms Som, and providing her real phone number; it was all a prank or something worse, because Ms Som was certainly not that kind of woman; the Criminal Court judge found him guilty under the Computer Crime Act, but then sentenced him to just 12 hours of community service and a one-year suspended imprisonment.
Game of denial
The Malaysian government announced then denied it intends to set up filters to block undesirable Internet content like its northern neighbour; on Friday morning, Information Minister Rais Yatim told newsmen he planned to put in filters to block all that "undesirable content";the following Thursday, after talking with Prime Minister, Najib Razak, Mr Yatim announced that existing laws were plenty strong enough to find and to prosecute actual sedition, fraud and child pornography, and he cancelled the country's calls for bids to supply an Internet filter system. China announced that it no longer planned to demand that all personal computers must have the flawed and official censorware program Green Dam ; Li Yizhong, minister of industry and information technology,said only schools and Internet cafes would be compelled to install the software; he actually said with a straight face it was only "to protect the children".
A week after fixing 18 security holes in Mac OS X,Apple Inc issued a security patch for the Bind Internet server standard, which allowed remote hackers to crash servers; Apple also issued a passel of security patches for the hackerfriendly Safari browser, Apple and Windows editions, including a nasty bug whereby a hacker could get Safari to list his malicious website as a Top Site.
Number 1 operating system peddlers Microsoft of America and No 1 yuppiephone tinkers Nokia of Finland announced a joint venture to port Microsoft Office to Nokia phones under the Symbian operating system; it's hard to imagine why anyone would want an office suite on a 2-inch screen, but apparently Nokia executives have convinced Microsoft they need the system to stomp and kick the nice BlackBerry maker Research In Motion .Microsoft announced that Office 2010 for the Apple Mac was on schedule,sort of, and should be ready for sale for the New Year's Eve shopping season next year ; well, that's 2010, right?A judge in Texas told Microsoft tostop selling editions of Word that use custom XML tagging technology; Microsoft lost a patent lawsuit over the XML format to the nice I4i firm, but it will appeal the ruling and won't stop selling Word for a day.Microsoft showed some photos of its new Zune HD, the music player that will certainly crush the Apple iPod; in a huge, shock surprise, the Zune prices will be held under iPod prices; it will have a web browser and the ability to copy high-def video to an HDTV (dock not included).
A British politician who would be prime minister wants to fine every person sharing a file illegally on the Internet to be find ฃ50,000, or 2.8 million baht in real money; Business Secretary Lord Mandelson of the Labour Party said he was "persuaded by the argument for tough laws" against all that piracy that's going on by seven million of his countrymen - after a dinner at the Greek island of Corfu, paid entirely by his close entertainment buddy David Geffen and the Rothschild bank.US President Barack Obama and his government ordered government-run Internet sites to resume dealing cookies to surfers, spurring major privacy concerns from serious civil liberties groups including the Electronic Privacy Information Center and Electronic Frontier Foundation; the groups also blamed private companies, principally Google ,for forcing government sites to use cookies in exchange for permission for the government to use its sites, such as posting videos on YouTube ; Vivek Kundra, the government's chief information officer, explained that the new policy is to improve customer service,but he was in such a hurry he forgot to explain what advantages the government was getting out of suddenly resuming its tracking of users.
Sara Morishige Williams, wife of Twitter CEO Evan Williams, provided graphic examples of "too much information"when she tweeted the birth of her child,minute by minute to 14,000 followers;things we didn't really have to know included "My water broke. It wasn't like Charlotte in Sex and the City . Now,timing contractions on an iPhone app"and "The Contraction Tracker was fun until the contractions got painful";thankfully her husband tweeted nothing.
The World Trade Organisation told China it had to stop censoring films,DVDs and books by funnelling all imports through state agencies; ruling on a suit brought by the United States, the WTO ordered China to open market access; the US claimed that by controlling such imports, China was increasing the demand for pirated goods.
In a report by OECD, the "developed"countries named and shamed the countries with the world's highest mobile phone charges: Canada, Spain and the United States, in that order; the lowest charges among the 30-member OECD were in Finland, with Holland and Sweden a tad higher.Toshiba moved to the dark side; after years spent inventing and championing the losing HD DVD format for high-density disks,Toshiba became a gracious loser and started making Blu-Ray players, now the standard but not yet fabulously popular.
A week after fixing 18 security holes in Mac OS X,Apple Inc issued a security patch for the Bind Internet server standard, which allowed remote hackers to crash servers; Apple also issued a passel of security patches for the hackerfriendly Safari browser, Apple and Windows editions, including a nasty bug whereby a hacker could get Safari to list his malicious website as a Top Site.
Number 1 operating system peddlers Microsoft of America and No 1 yuppiephone tinkers Nokia of Finland announced a joint venture to port Microsoft Office to Nokia phones under the Symbian operating system; it's hard to imagine why anyone would want an office suite on a 2-inch screen, but apparently Nokia executives have convinced Microsoft they need the system to stomp and kick the nice BlackBerry maker Research In Motion .Microsoft announced that Office 2010 for the Apple Mac was on schedule,sort of, and should be ready for sale for the New Year's Eve shopping season next year ; well, that's 2010, right?A judge in Texas told Microsoft tostop selling editions of Word that use custom XML tagging technology; Microsoft lost a patent lawsuit over the XML format to the nice I4i firm, but it will appeal the ruling and won't stop selling Word for a day.Microsoft showed some photos of its new Zune HD, the music player that will certainly crush the Apple iPod; in a huge, shock surprise, the Zune prices will be held under iPod prices; it will have a web browser and the ability to copy high-def video to an HDTV (dock not included).
A British politician who would be prime minister wants to fine every person sharing a file illegally on the Internet to be find ฃ50,000, or 2.8 million baht in real money; Business Secretary Lord Mandelson of the Labour Party said he was "persuaded by the argument for tough laws" against all that piracy that's going on by seven million of his countrymen - after a dinner at the Greek island of Corfu, paid entirely by his close entertainment buddy David Geffen and the Rothschild bank.US President Barack Obama and his government ordered government-run Internet sites to resume dealing cookies to surfers, spurring major privacy concerns from serious civil liberties groups including the Electronic Privacy Information Center and Electronic Frontier Foundation; the groups also blamed private companies, principally Google ,for forcing government sites to use cookies in exchange for permission for the government to use its sites, such as posting videos on YouTube ; Vivek Kundra, the government's chief information officer, explained that the new policy is to improve customer service,but he was in such a hurry he forgot to explain what advantages the government was getting out of suddenly resuming its tracking of users.
Sara Morishige Williams, wife of Twitter CEO Evan Williams, provided graphic examples of "too much information"when she tweeted the birth of her child,minute by minute to 14,000 followers;things we didn't really have to know included "My water broke. It wasn't like Charlotte in Sex and the City . Now,timing contractions on an iPhone app"and "The Contraction Tracker was fun until the contractions got painful";thankfully her husband tweeted nothing.
The World Trade Organisation told China it had to stop censoring films,DVDs and books by funnelling all imports through state agencies; ruling on a suit brought by the United States, the WTO ordered China to open market access; the US claimed that by controlling such imports, China was increasing the demand for pirated goods.
In a report by OECD, the "developed"countries named and shamed the countries with the world's highest mobile phone charges: Canada, Spain and the United States, in that order; the lowest charges among the 30-member OECD were in Finland, with Holland and Sweden a tad higher.Toshiba moved to the dark side; after years spent inventing and championing the losing HD DVD format for high-density disks,Toshiba became a gracious loser and started making Blu-Ray players, now the standard but not yet fabulously popular.
TOT trying to kickstart stalled 3G plan
TOT may withdraw its revised 29-billionbaht 3G project from the cabinet and use the previous draft because the project appears to be stalled.
Board spokesman Ratian Srimongkol said the state telecom enterprise submitted the revised 3G project to the cabinet several months ago but so far there was no sign it would be tabled for approval.
The revised project calls for general bidding for the third-generation mobile service and local financing for flexibility.
He said that as further delays in the 3G launch scheduled for Dec 5 could disrupt its business opportunities and marketing strategies, it would be better to use the original plan approved earlier by the previous government.
The original plan allows TOT to seek international financing in the form of export credits and to call international bidding.
TOT intends to upgrade 533 base stations of its subsidiary Thai Mobile so that it can start offering services by Dec 5, covering areas along the Airport Link route.
He said TOT earlier feared international bidding could pose problems in documentation, as requests need to be in English and sent to the foreign embassies of all bidders.
The process takes time to translate the documents. But the spokesman said such problems have been resolved and TOT was ready for such documents to be sent.
If the revised project is withdrawn,TOT could use the original plan to call international bidding and seek foreign funds to launch its 3G project immediately.
Board spokesman Ratian Srimongkol said the state telecom enterprise submitted the revised 3G project to the cabinet several months ago but so far there was no sign it would be tabled for approval.
The revised project calls for general bidding for the third-generation mobile service and local financing for flexibility.
He said that as further delays in the 3G launch scheduled for Dec 5 could disrupt its business opportunities and marketing strategies, it would be better to use the original plan approved earlier by the previous government.
The original plan allows TOT to seek international financing in the form of export credits and to call international bidding.
TOT intends to upgrade 533 base stations of its subsidiary Thai Mobile so that it can start offering services by Dec 5, covering areas along the Airport Link route.
He said TOT earlier feared international bidding could pose problems in documentation, as requests need to be in English and sent to the foreign embassies of all bidders.
The process takes time to translate the documents. But the spokesman said such problems have been resolved and TOT was ready for such documents to be sent.
If the revised project is withdrawn,TOT could use the original plan to call international bidding and seek foreign funds to launch its 3G project immediately.
Thailand Post's franchise system flourishing
Thailand Post Shop at the Robinson department store on Ratchadaphisek earns between Bt60,000 and Bt70,000 net on average every month and comes second only to another shop in Lat Krabang Community Housing Project, which earns about Bt100,000 per month. And all this success comes from a novel business idea.
Thailand Post, under the jurisdiction of the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, has so far granted franchising licenses to 27 shops nationwide, under which individuals offer postal services instead of the state agency. And these shops, based in convenient locations, which along with the business acumen of entrepreneurs help guarantee returning customers, only increase revenues for Thailand Post.
A worker at the Ratchada outlet, who asked not to be named, said they were working hard to keep improving customer services. "If we satisfy customers, they will keep coming back," the worker said, adding that being based in a shopping centre also helped draw traffic because city residents prefer to complete everything in one venue.
The shop, which offers Pay at Post options along with traditional mailing services, caters to about 100 customers per day.
Reports of this outlet's success drew 14 post officials - in Bangkok to take postal management courses at the Asian Pacific Postal College (APPC) - to the shop on August 19. The officials hail from Japan, China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Burma, the Maldives and Thailand.
A similar franchise system has also proved successful in Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, India and Pakistan.
APPC's course director Wasim Zafar said he had chosen this shop as a case study because it was the perfect example of a partnership between the public and private sectors.
"Business is better handled in the private sector, because shop owners stop at nothing to attract customers," he explained, adding that he hoped officials doing this course would implement similar systems back home.
One of the visiting officials, Maldives Post's assistant manager for sales, Rifath Ali, said she was impressed with the new concept and hoped it would be adopted in her own country.
"Everybody is suffering from the economic crisis, so we have to find new ways to improve our post offices. Post offices in the Maldives come under the state. But hopefully in the future we will be able to join up with big business and earn more," she said.
Thailand Post has cut its 2009 net-profit target to Bt870 million.
Wasim said e-commerce could be another way to boost income.
"People can do paperless payment, but deliveries cannot be paperless," he said.
Thailand Post, under the jurisdiction of the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, has so far granted franchising licenses to 27 shops nationwide, under which individuals offer postal services instead of the state agency. And these shops, based in convenient locations, which along with the business acumen of entrepreneurs help guarantee returning customers, only increase revenues for Thailand Post.
A worker at the Ratchada outlet, who asked not to be named, said they were working hard to keep improving customer services. "If we satisfy customers, they will keep coming back," the worker said, adding that being based in a shopping centre also helped draw traffic because city residents prefer to complete everything in one venue.
The shop, which offers Pay at Post options along with traditional mailing services, caters to about 100 customers per day.
Reports of this outlet's success drew 14 post officials - in Bangkok to take postal management courses at the Asian Pacific Postal College (APPC) - to the shop on August 19. The officials hail from Japan, China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Burma, the Maldives and Thailand.
A similar franchise system has also proved successful in Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, India and Pakistan.
APPC's course director Wasim Zafar said he had chosen this shop as a case study because it was the perfect example of a partnership between the public and private sectors.
"Business is better handled in the private sector, because shop owners stop at nothing to attract customers," he explained, adding that he hoped officials doing this course would implement similar systems back home.
One of the visiting officials, Maldives Post's assistant manager for sales, Rifath Ali, said she was impressed with the new concept and hoped it would be adopted in her own country.
"Everybody is suffering from the economic crisis, so we have to find new ways to improve our post offices. Post offices in the Maldives come under the state. But hopefully in the future we will be able to join up with big business and earn more," she said.
Thailand Post has cut its 2009 net-profit target to Bt870 million.
Wasim said e-commerce could be another way to boost income.
"People can do paperless payment, but deliveries cannot be paperless," he said.
Monday, August 24, 2009
TELECOM UNION URGES ACCESS FOR DISABLED
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is urging lawmakers and regulators in Asia-Pacific countries to make a greater effort to provide access to information and communication technology for disabled people.
The message will be delivered at an Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Mainstreaming ICT Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities which starts today at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok and runs until Thursday.
The head of the ITU's Asia-Pacific regional office, Eun-Ju Kim, said the forum would also introduce the "e-Accessible Policy Toolkit for Persons with Disabilities", developed by ITU and G3ict.
The policy toolkit aims to support various stakeholders in developing policies and strategies for ICT accessibility for disabled people, in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
The toolkit provides a framework for developing policies and strategies for mainstreaming digital accessibility at regional, national and international levels and offers specific guidance to developing countries.
"We aim to raise awareness and generate momentum for the implementation of the CRPD, especially in countries across this region. Participants at the forum will exchange experiences and case studies, as well as learning about innovative ICT-accessibility measures for disabled people, especially through assistive technologies and applications," Kim said.
She said that initiatives in Thailand for ICT accessibility for disabled people, led by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who was also one of ITU's Patrons, had been carried out. However, the government still needed to take action.
"ICT accessibility policies, especially for disabled people, will not emerge overnight. Consistent and persistent steps must be taken to properly design policies and to implement them for an effective ICT-accessible environment in any given country," Kim said.
ICT-accessibility issues must be considered in relevant laws, regulations, policies and programmes at all stages from design to implementation. She gave as examples Web technologies including information services, websites and online applications; public access terminals such as ATMs, information kiosks, vending machines, information displays, point-of-sale payment systems and door-entry systems; and application software, telecommunication devices and services.
The most recent survey in Thailand, undertaken by the National Statistical Office in 2007, showed that around 1.9 million people, or about 2.9 per cent of the population, had disabilities.
Despite efforts to bridge the digital divide, the gap for disabled people is getting wider and deeper as they fail to catch up with new technologies and services, while assistive technologies, devices and applications specifically designed for these people are barely affordable, she said.
Kim emphasised the role of not only policy-makers and regulators, but also that of industries, in their ability to contribute appropriate designs and affordable ICT products and services for disabled people - taking into account potential markets in an ageing society.
"ICT products and services built with the needs of disabled people in mind will be easier for everyone to use. This helps people who are not technologically skilled to use these products and services. Otherwise, they will be intimidated by them and won't use them," she said.
The ITU will continue to promote the toolkit and deliver appropriate training based on the toolkit to various stakeholders, including policy-makers, regulators and others interested in mainstreaming, developing and implementing ICT accessibility issues for disabled people.
"In Thailand, the ITU is working with the ICT Ministry, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Nectec in areas such as accessibility standards, telecommunications relay services, policy and regulations and human-capacity building," Kim said.
The message will be delivered at an Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Mainstreaming ICT Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities which starts today at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok and runs until Thursday.
The head of the ITU's Asia-Pacific regional office, Eun-Ju Kim, said the forum would also introduce the "e-Accessible Policy Toolkit for Persons with Disabilities", developed by ITU and G3ict.
The policy toolkit aims to support various stakeholders in developing policies and strategies for ICT accessibility for disabled people, in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
The toolkit provides a framework for developing policies and strategies for mainstreaming digital accessibility at regional, national and international levels and offers specific guidance to developing countries.
"We aim to raise awareness and generate momentum for the implementation of the CRPD, especially in countries across this region. Participants at the forum will exchange experiences and case studies, as well as learning about innovative ICT-accessibility measures for disabled people, especially through assistive technologies and applications," Kim said.
She said that initiatives in Thailand for ICT accessibility for disabled people, led by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who was also one of ITU's Patrons, had been carried out. However, the government still needed to take action.
"ICT accessibility policies, especially for disabled people, will not emerge overnight. Consistent and persistent steps must be taken to properly design policies and to implement them for an effective ICT-accessible environment in any given country," Kim said.
ICT-accessibility issues must be considered in relevant laws, regulations, policies and programmes at all stages from design to implementation. She gave as examples Web technologies including information services, websites and online applications; public access terminals such as ATMs, information kiosks, vending machines, information displays, point-of-sale payment systems and door-entry systems; and application software, telecommunication devices and services.
The most recent survey in Thailand, undertaken by the National Statistical Office in 2007, showed that around 1.9 million people, or about 2.9 per cent of the population, had disabilities.
Despite efforts to bridge the digital divide, the gap for disabled people is getting wider and deeper as they fail to catch up with new technologies and services, while assistive technologies, devices and applications specifically designed for these people are barely affordable, she said.
Kim emphasised the role of not only policy-makers and regulators, but also that of industries, in their ability to contribute appropriate designs and affordable ICT products and services for disabled people - taking into account potential markets in an ageing society.
"ICT products and services built with the needs of disabled people in mind will be easier for everyone to use. This helps people who are not technologically skilled to use these products and services. Otherwise, they will be intimidated by them and won't use them," she said.
The ITU will continue to promote the toolkit and deliver appropriate training based on the toolkit to various stakeholders, including policy-makers, regulators and others interested in mainstreaming, developing and implementing ICT accessibility issues for disabled people.
"In Thailand, the ITU is working with the ICT Ministry, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Nectec in areas such as accessibility standards, telecommunications relay services, policy and regulations and human-capacity building," Kim said.
NECTEC G-BOX CHECKS DRIVERS AND DELIVERIES
Device monitors position, speed, status, allows voice contact
The National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) has developed a computer-based system to maintain real-time surveillance over the behaviour of transport drivers and remotely monitor the progress of deliveries by road.
The system is called the G-Box, having been developed as a driving assistance system in the centre's so-called Generic Box Project. Nectec, which developed the G-Box as a means of minimising transport risks to businesses, expects the technology to be ready for commercial use in the near future.
The director of Nectec's Intelligent Transport Systems Programme, Passakorn Pathombutr, said that the G-Box, which would be located in transport trailers, rather than in the prime mover or driving cabin, aimed to check the status of the trailer and its cargo from point of origin to destination. The technology is based on embedded systems and open-source software. The status of the trailer will be displayed constantly on a monitor screen in the computer centre of the company's head office.
The G-Box is integrated with a global positioning system (GPS) which provides both location and speed. The system will also report on the status of both the trailer and the engine control unit of the truck.
The system will also provide useful real-time information to the driver during the journey, such as warning of accidents or road construction on the road ahead so that the driver can avoid troublesome spots. These warnings will be delivered to the driver about 20 kilometres before the site of the problem.
The system will not only allow head-office administrators to check the status and location of the trailer and its load, but also to give the driver a verbal warning if the speed of the trailer exceeds speed limits set by the company or the law.
"We are concerned about both security and the confidence of drivers," Passakorn said. "The G-Box can also check and control the behaviour of drivers while they are on the road."
Nectec has installed prototype G-Boxes into two PTT truck-trailers hauling oil around the country. The next step is to transfer the technology to business partners so the G-Box will soon be available commercially to the public.
He said the centre planned to implement and bundle controller area network technology, speech- and voice-recognition technology into the G-Box in the future so that the box will provide a gateway for truck-trailer drivers to communicate with other vehicles. Moreover, users will be able to access the Internet on the move, from cars, trucks or buses on which the G-Boxes are installed.
Passakorn said the G-Box was also suitable for installation in school buses, taxis and passenger cars, to monitor driving economy or to oversee new drivers.
The National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) has developed a computer-based system to maintain real-time surveillance over the behaviour of transport drivers and remotely monitor the progress of deliveries by road.
The system is called the G-Box, having been developed as a driving assistance system in the centre's so-called Generic Box Project. Nectec, which developed the G-Box as a means of minimising transport risks to businesses, expects the technology to be ready for commercial use in the near future.
The director of Nectec's Intelligent Transport Systems Programme, Passakorn Pathombutr, said that the G-Box, which would be located in transport trailers, rather than in the prime mover or driving cabin, aimed to check the status of the trailer and its cargo from point of origin to destination. The technology is based on embedded systems and open-source software. The status of the trailer will be displayed constantly on a monitor screen in the computer centre of the company's head office.
The G-Box is integrated with a global positioning system (GPS) which provides both location and speed. The system will also report on the status of both the trailer and the engine control unit of the truck.
The system will also provide useful real-time information to the driver during the journey, such as warning of accidents or road construction on the road ahead so that the driver can avoid troublesome spots. These warnings will be delivered to the driver about 20 kilometres before the site of the problem.
The system will not only allow head-office administrators to check the status and location of the trailer and its load, but also to give the driver a verbal warning if the speed of the trailer exceeds speed limits set by the company or the law.
"We are concerned about both security and the confidence of drivers," Passakorn said. "The G-Box can also check and control the behaviour of drivers while they are on the road."
Nectec has installed prototype G-Boxes into two PTT truck-trailers hauling oil around the country. The next step is to transfer the technology to business partners so the G-Box will soon be available commercially to the public.
He said the centre planned to implement and bundle controller area network technology, speech- and voice-recognition technology into the G-Box in the future so that the box will provide a gateway for truck-trailer drivers to communicate with other vehicles. Moreover, users will be able to access the Internet on the move, from cars, trucks or buses on which the G-Boxes are installed.
Passakorn said the G-Box was also suitable for installation in school buses, taxis and passenger cars, to monitor driving economy or to oversee new drivers.
Shin says stake sale depends on market
A plan by Singapore's Temasek Holdings to sell its stake in Shin Corp will depend on market conditions, an executive at the company said yesterday.
The plan is followed closely by investors as it is likely to increase the volume of Shin shares trading in the market.Some analysts see the stock as a good proxy for the telecoms industry but say the low free float is a trading risk.
"Our major shareholder has a policy to dilute its stake, but timing will depend on the economic situation and market conditions," Tomyantee Kongpoolsilpa,a senior manager for investor relations at Shin, told reporters.
Shin was founded by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and control of the company was sold to Temasek by his family back in 2006.
Shin's free float dropped to under 4%, below the 15% threshold required by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, following Temasek's $3.8-billion takeover.
Under a complicated structure, Shin is 96.12% owned by two Thai-registered companies, Cedar Holdings and Aspen Holdings.
Aspen is owned directly by a Temasek subsidiary, while Cedar is 49% owned by Temasek.
The Singapore state investment firm had planned to dilute its holding in Shin Corp to 49%, but the plan is on hold pending a probe into whether the takeover broke laws limiting foreign ownership of Thai firms to 49%.
Kim Eng Securities said in a note that the Shin shares looked interesting because of third-generation mobile phone licences to be issued to its 43%-owned Advanced Info Service (AIS) and the progress of the iPSTAR satellite business run by its 41%-owned Thaicom.
Shares in Shin, valued at $2.1 billion on the Thai bourse, ended 0.9% higher at 23 baht after touching a 12-month high of 23.30 baht earlier. The overall Thai stock market was 1.3% higher.
The current value of Shin shares is under half the price Temasek paid,49.25 baht, in January 2006.
Shin groups more than 20 companies in the wireless, satellite, Internet and media sectors, with AIS, Thailand's largest mobile-phone operator, contributing more than 80% of its profit.
The plan is followed closely by investors as it is likely to increase the volume of Shin shares trading in the market.Some analysts see the stock as a good proxy for the telecoms industry but say the low free float is a trading risk.
"Our major shareholder has a policy to dilute its stake, but timing will depend on the economic situation and market conditions," Tomyantee Kongpoolsilpa,a senior manager for investor relations at Shin, told reporters.
Shin was founded by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and control of the company was sold to Temasek by his family back in 2006.
Shin's free float dropped to under 4%, below the 15% threshold required by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, following Temasek's $3.8-billion takeover.
Under a complicated structure, Shin is 96.12% owned by two Thai-registered companies, Cedar Holdings and Aspen Holdings.
Aspen is owned directly by a Temasek subsidiary, while Cedar is 49% owned by Temasek.
The Singapore state investment firm had planned to dilute its holding in Shin Corp to 49%, but the plan is on hold pending a probe into whether the takeover broke laws limiting foreign ownership of Thai firms to 49%.
Kim Eng Securities said in a note that the Shin shares looked interesting because of third-generation mobile phone licences to be issued to its 43%-owned Advanced Info Service (AIS) and the progress of the iPSTAR satellite business run by its 41%-owned Thaicom.
Shares in Shin, valued at $2.1 billion on the Thai bourse, ended 0.9% higher at 23 baht after touching a 12-month high of 23.30 baht earlier. The overall Thai stock market was 1.3% higher.
The current value of Shin shares is under half the price Temasek paid,49.25 baht, in January 2006.
Shin groups more than 20 companies in the wireless, satellite, Internet and media sectors, with AIS, Thailand's largest mobile-phone operator, contributing more than 80% of its profit.
SHIN CORP TO RAISE FREE FLOAT OF SHARES
Shin Corp has reaffirmed its plan to raise the free float of its shares, currently over 3 per cent, pending favourable timing and market situation.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand requires listed firms to maintain a free float of at least 15 per cent, or face de-listing after a period of time.
Tomyantee Kongpoolsilpa, Shin's senior manager for group investor relations, said yesterday that the company's shareholders have maintained the policy of increasing the number of the company's shares in the open market.
Cedar Holdings and Aspen Holdings, which are controlled by Singapore's state investment arm Temasek Holdings, jointly acquired almost 50 per cent of Shin from its founders, members of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family, in January 2006.
Both companies later raised their combined stake in Shin to the present 96 per cent after holding a mandatory tender offer.
Tomyantee also said Shin was still studying possible investment opportunities.
Shin's flagship businesses are Advanced Info Service (AIS), the country's largest cellular operator, in which it owns 42.7 per cent, and satellite operator Thaicom, in which it owns 41.1 per cent.
Shin posted consolidated net profit in the first half of this year of Bt3.58 billion, down from Bt4.48 billion over the same half last year. Its share price yesterday closed at Bt23, up from Bt22.80 last Friday.
AIS' second-quarter consolidated net profit plunged 33.7 per cent year on year to Bt4.2 billion, due to the seasonally weak quarter and economic decline.
For the first half, net profit was down 23.5 per cent to Bt8.77 billion.
AIS has 27.9 million subscribers.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand requires listed firms to maintain a free float of at least 15 per cent, or face de-listing after a period of time.
Tomyantee Kongpoolsilpa, Shin's senior manager for group investor relations, said yesterday that the company's shareholders have maintained the policy of increasing the number of the company's shares in the open market.
Cedar Holdings and Aspen Holdings, which are controlled by Singapore's state investment arm Temasek Holdings, jointly acquired almost 50 per cent of Shin from its founders, members of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family, in January 2006.
Both companies later raised their combined stake in Shin to the present 96 per cent after holding a mandatory tender offer.
Tomyantee also said Shin was still studying possible investment opportunities.
Shin's flagship businesses are Advanced Info Service (AIS), the country's largest cellular operator, in which it owns 42.7 per cent, and satellite operator Thaicom, in which it owns 41.1 per cent.
Shin posted consolidated net profit in the first half of this year of Bt3.58 billion, down from Bt4.48 billion over the same half last year. Its share price yesterday closed at Bt23, up from Bt22.80 last Friday.
AIS' second-quarter consolidated net profit plunged 33.7 per cent year on year to Bt4.2 billion, due to the seasonally weak quarter and economic decline.
For the first half, net profit was down 23.5 per cent to Bt8.77 billion.
AIS has 27.9 million subscribers.
Legal disputes could slow industry
More legal problems could impede the growth of the telecom industry by preventing the full implementation of three regulations issued by the National Telecommunications Commission, a telecom expert has warned.
Anuparb Thiralarp, a former advisory member of the House Telecommunications Commission, said that at least three NTC regulations were likely to face challenges: mobile number port-ability, interconnection rates and standard contracts for consumers.
The regulation for mobile number portability was issued on July 15 and became law after it was published in the Royal Gazette . It stipulates that mobile operators must be ready for people to use the service within three months,so that from the end of November mobile phone users can switch operators but retain their old numbers, he said.
But private mobile phone operators have insisted they cannot meet the law's timeframe - a central traffic clearing system needs a year to be built and completed - and have informed the NTC, he said.
The NTC's second headache is in-terconnection regulations, which became effective three years ago.
But only three major mobile operators have entered the interconnection regime.
The three operators merely book and clear their interconnection traffic fees on their financial statements as reserved items. The NTC has not penalised private operators that have yet to join the interconnection regime.
A regulation on standard contracts also remains a paper tiger, despite being issued three years ago, he said.
The standard contract between operators and customers is significant because it should protect customers in 11 aspects.
Its clauses prohibit mobile operators from fixing expiry dates on prepaid cards,oblige operators to refund money left on prepaid cards and prevent operators from terminating services while engaged in legal disputes with customers.
Mobile operators submitted copies of their standard contracts to the NTC for approval long ago and are still waiting for its endorsement, he said.
These regulations have yet to be implemented and the consumer protection association on telecom services should speed up the process, he said.
Mr Anuparb predicted legal disputes if customers wanted to take advantage of number portability but operators could not offer it.
The Telecommunications Consumers Protection Institute and the NTC should be ready to receive complaints over this, he said.
Several other problems between operators and customers are yet to be resolved, particularly operators who terminate the fixed-line or mobile services of defaulting customers and then demand fees and unpaid bills to restore services.
The NTC told DTAC to refund a customer over this issue. But DTAC has appealed for a renewed investigation,he said.
This case applied only to DTAC but other operators were still collecting reconnection fees, he said.
Anuparb Thiralarp, a former advisory member of the House Telecommunications Commission, said that at least three NTC regulations were likely to face challenges: mobile number port-ability, interconnection rates and standard contracts for consumers.
The regulation for mobile number portability was issued on July 15 and became law after it was published in the Royal Gazette . It stipulates that mobile operators must be ready for people to use the service within three months,so that from the end of November mobile phone users can switch operators but retain their old numbers, he said.
But private mobile phone operators have insisted they cannot meet the law's timeframe - a central traffic clearing system needs a year to be built and completed - and have informed the NTC, he said.
The NTC's second headache is in-terconnection regulations, which became effective three years ago.
But only three major mobile operators have entered the interconnection regime.
The three operators merely book and clear their interconnection traffic fees on their financial statements as reserved items. The NTC has not penalised private operators that have yet to join the interconnection regime.
A regulation on standard contracts also remains a paper tiger, despite being issued three years ago, he said.
The standard contract between operators and customers is significant because it should protect customers in 11 aspects.
Its clauses prohibit mobile operators from fixing expiry dates on prepaid cards,oblige operators to refund money left on prepaid cards and prevent operators from terminating services while engaged in legal disputes with customers.
Mobile operators submitted copies of their standard contracts to the NTC for approval long ago and are still waiting for its endorsement, he said.
These regulations have yet to be implemented and the consumer protection association on telecom services should speed up the process, he said.
Mr Anuparb predicted legal disputes if customers wanted to take advantage of number portability but operators could not offer it.
The Telecommunications Consumers Protection Institute and the NTC should be ready to receive complaints over this, he said.
Several other problems between operators and customers are yet to be resolved, particularly operators who terminate the fixed-line or mobile services of defaulting customers and then demand fees and unpaid bills to restore services.
The NTC told DTAC to refund a customer over this issue. But DTAC has appealed for a renewed investigation,he said.
This case applied only to DTAC but other operators were still collecting reconnection fees, he said.
Joint bid for giant telescope
Australia and New Zealand announced a joint bid yesterday for a giant radio telescope project which will seek out the earliest traces of the universe in a search for intelligent life.
The Pacific neighbours said their joint $2.1 billion bid was one of two on the shortlist for the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a project which will use 4,000 telescopes as a single device to tap into deep space.
"The SKA project promises to be a top global science project of the 21st century, using one of the world's most powerful computers to explore fundamental questions in science," said New Zealand Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee.
The array, which will be able to see back to the formation of the first stars,was one of the world's most significant "mega-science" projects, said Mr Brownlee, who signed the formal agreement in Sydney yesterday.
Australia's Science Minister Kim Carr said the joint bid proposed erecting 4,000 antennas that would stretch 5,000km from Australia's west coast to New Zealand, and described the trans-Tasman involvement as "crucial".
A final decision on whether Australia and New Zealand or rival bidder South Africa will host the SKA will be made in 2012, and construction will take between six and eight years, the ministers said.
Australia has already outbid Argentina,China and the US to make the final two.
A global consortium involving more than 50 institutions from 19 countries was driving the SKA programme, and money for the project was expected to come from international partner governments, they added.
The SKA would be 10,000 times more powerful than current instruments and will try to determine whether there is intelligent life beyond Earth and what happened after the Big Bang.
The Pacific neighbours said their joint $2.1 billion bid was one of two on the shortlist for the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a project which will use 4,000 telescopes as a single device to tap into deep space.
"The SKA project promises to be a top global science project of the 21st century, using one of the world's most powerful computers to explore fundamental questions in science," said New Zealand Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee.
The array, which will be able to see back to the formation of the first stars,was one of the world's most significant "mega-science" projects, said Mr Brownlee, who signed the formal agreement in Sydney yesterday.
Australia's Science Minister Kim Carr said the joint bid proposed erecting 4,000 antennas that would stretch 5,000km from Australia's west coast to New Zealand, and described the trans-Tasman involvement as "crucial".
A final decision on whether Australia and New Zealand or rival bidder South Africa will host the SKA will be made in 2012, and construction will take between six and eight years, the ministers said.
Australia has already outbid Argentina,China and the US to make the final two.
A global consortium involving more than 50 institutions from 19 countries was driving the SKA programme, and money for the project was expected to come from international partner governments, they added.
The SKA would be 10,000 times more powerful than current instruments and will try to determine whether there is intelligent life beyond Earth and what happened after the Big Bang.
CAT TO FORM PARTNERSHIP
The board of CAT Telecom recently instructed the state agency to prepare to seek a partner to bid jointly for a third-generation wireless-broadband spectrum licence.
CAT executive committee chairman Krisda Kaweeyarn said the board had told management to study several possible partnership models and that the potential partner could be either a local or a foreign telecom operator.
Krisda believes some telecom operators are interested in joining with CAT to bid for a third-generation licence.
"The 3G business is the road to go down, as we've focused on the wireless and wire-line businesses," he said.
The National Telecommunications Commission will auction four 3G 2.1-gigahertz spectrum licences but has yet to specify the date. It is expected to put the licences up for auction late this year or early next.
The watchdog's 3G licensing consultant, Nera, is working out the details of the auction process.
CAT is also working out the business strategy and marketing plan for its fibre-to-the-x (FTTx) business, which will provide broadband access and multimedia content to customers' premises via the direct link of a fibre-optic network, Krisda said.
The board recently approved the state agency's spending of Bt6 billion to develop the FTTx service in greater Bangkok. The service, to be launched within the next two years, initially targets 400,000 customers.
He said CAT would launch the service in other major provinces after the service debut in Bangkok.
Many companies have shown interest in being multimedia content partners for CAT's FTTx business.
Krisda believes CAT will be able to post a net operating profit this year, due to its ongoing cost-reduction programme, while its main business of international calling has continued to launch aggressive marketing campaigns in a bid to boost revenue.
CAT's Code Division Multiple Access 2000 1-x cellular service in 51 provinces currently has 350,000 subscribers, against a target of 500,000 for this year.
The agency recorded revenue of Bt23.79 billion for the first half, down 3 per cent year on year, for a net profit oft Bt3.98 billion, down 13 per cent. Excluding concession revenue, CAT posted income of Bt9.35 billion for a net loss of Bt286 million for the period.
Of the first-half revenue, Bt1.1 billion was contributed by its cellular-service marketing joint venture, Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia.
CAT targets overall revenue of Bt52 billion for a net profit of Bt9.26 billion this year.
In a separate matter, True Move, which is providing 3G service on its 1,800-megahertz spectrum on a non-commercial basis, recently asked for CAT's permission to begin offering the service commercially. True Move holds the mobile-phone service concession of CAT.
Krisda said the CAT board, which had just assumed office, needed time to consider the request.
CAT executive committee chairman Krisda Kaweeyarn said the board had told management to study several possible partnership models and that the potential partner could be either a local or a foreign telecom operator.
Krisda believes some telecom operators are interested in joining with CAT to bid for a third-generation licence.
"The 3G business is the road to go down, as we've focused on the wireless and wire-line businesses," he said.
The National Telecommunications Commission will auction four 3G 2.1-gigahertz spectrum licences but has yet to specify the date. It is expected to put the licences up for auction late this year or early next.
The watchdog's 3G licensing consultant, Nera, is working out the details of the auction process.
CAT is also working out the business strategy and marketing plan for its fibre-to-the-x (FTTx) business, which will provide broadband access and multimedia content to customers' premises via the direct link of a fibre-optic network, Krisda said.
The board recently approved the state agency's spending of Bt6 billion to develop the FTTx service in greater Bangkok. The service, to be launched within the next two years, initially targets 400,000 customers.
He said CAT would launch the service in other major provinces after the service debut in Bangkok.
Many companies have shown interest in being multimedia content partners for CAT's FTTx business.
Krisda believes CAT will be able to post a net operating profit this year, due to its ongoing cost-reduction programme, while its main business of international calling has continued to launch aggressive marketing campaigns in a bid to boost revenue.
CAT's Code Division Multiple Access 2000 1-x cellular service in 51 provinces currently has 350,000 subscribers, against a target of 500,000 for this year.
The agency recorded revenue of Bt23.79 billion for the first half, down 3 per cent year on year, for a net profit oft Bt3.98 billion, down 13 per cent. Excluding concession revenue, CAT posted income of Bt9.35 billion for a net loss of Bt286 million for the period.
Of the first-half revenue, Bt1.1 billion was contributed by its cellular-service marketing joint venture, Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia.
CAT targets overall revenue of Bt52 billion for a net profit of Bt9.26 billion this year.
In a separate matter, True Move, which is providing 3G service on its 1,800-megahertz spectrum on a non-commercial basis, recently asked for CAT's permission to begin offering the service commercially. True Move holds the mobile-phone service concession of CAT.
Krisda said the CAT board, which had just assumed office, needed time to consider the request.
NEW IT SYSTEMS TO REVITALISE TOT
TOT will enhance its back-end information-technology infrastructure and develop an enterprise information system (Entis) to improve the quality of its services, support its organisation and customers and provide for new services in the future.
Senior executive vice president Kittipong Tameyapradit said because TOT was a large organisation, it had to deal with huge amounts of information was scattered. Therefore, the company plans to develop the Entis to improve its database management and the quality of its services.
Entis is an integrated data warehouse and data-mining system capable of providing analyses and helping executives to make business and operational decisions. The system will also assist in management of TOT's finances, human resources and networking. It will break down the complexity of the organisation's reporting requirements, replacing more than 1,700 reports with about 200 in future.
It is expected to save the cost of TOT's annual investment-related report, involving 453 brkanch offices and delivering around Bt60 million to the company's head office every year.
Moreover, TOT is adopting technology to change the management of its 1177 call centre, which handles complaints. Geographical information systems (GISs) and customer-relationship management (CRM) systems are being integrated into the call centre's technology. Information will be recorded in a database and customer locations monitored so services can be provided efficiently and the location of calls displayed on a monitor screen.
The changes will also enhance the company's provision of service-level agreements with large customers.
"We have now integrated GIS into the system in Phuket and plan to invest Bt180 million to integrate it into the system in six more provinces, so that staff are able to monitor information and the location of customers without needing to go into the field before services are provided. Meanwhile, executives will able to access real-time information from their computers," Kittipong said.
Formerly, when customers reported a breakdown in services from fixed telephone lines or other network infrastructure, TOT had to send staff into the field to check the condition of the network. With the new system, staff will able to monitor the customer's problem and location, and the state of the network infrastructure, from display monitors in the office. As result, the company will be able to provide services in 15 minutes rather than three days.
TOT expects to invest around Bt1 billion next year to develop billing management and CRM systems to support existing and new services.
The billing-management system is aimed at delivering a single bill to customers covering a range of services.
"We have already integrated service-fee charges for new third-generation telephone services and existing ADSL as well as fixed-line telephone fees. As result, customers will able to pay for all these services with only one bill," Kittipong said.
TOT is also planning to enter business partnerships, both international and domestic, to develop Internet-protocol television services in the near future, he said.
Senior executive vice president Kittipong Tameyapradit said because TOT was a large organisation, it had to deal with huge amounts of information was scattered. Therefore, the company plans to develop the Entis to improve its database management and the quality of its services.
Entis is an integrated data warehouse and data-mining system capable of providing analyses and helping executives to make business and operational decisions. The system will also assist in management of TOT's finances, human resources and networking. It will break down the complexity of the organisation's reporting requirements, replacing more than 1,700 reports with about 200 in future.
It is expected to save the cost of TOT's annual investment-related report, involving 453 brkanch offices and delivering around Bt60 million to the company's head office every year.
Moreover, TOT is adopting technology to change the management of its 1177 call centre, which handles complaints. Geographical information systems (GISs) and customer-relationship management (CRM) systems are being integrated into the call centre's technology. Information will be recorded in a database and customer locations monitored so services can be provided efficiently and the location of calls displayed on a monitor screen.
The changes will also enhance the company's provision of service-level agreements with large customers.
"We have now integrated GIS into the system in Phuket and plan to invest Bt180 million to integrate it into the system in six more provinces, so that staff are able to monitor information and the location of customers without needing to go into the field before services are provided. Meanwhile, executives will able to access real-time information from their computers," Kittipong said.
Formerly, when customers reported a breakdown in services from fixed telephone lines or other network infrastructure, TOT had to send staff into the field to check the condition of the network. With the new system, staff will able to monitor the customer's problem and location, and the state of the network infrastructure, from display monitors in the office. As result, the company will be able to provide services in 15 minutes rather than three days.
TOT expects to invest around Bt1 billion next year to develop billing management and CRM systems to support existing and new services.
The billing-management system is aimed at delivering a single bill to customers covering a range of services.
"We have already integrated service-fee charges for new third-generation telephone services and existing ADSL as well as fixed-line telephone fees. As result, customers will able to pay for all these services with only one bill," Kittipong said.
TOT is also planning to enter business partnerships, both international and domestic, to develop Internet-protocol television services in the near future, he said.
CAT TO SET UP PANEL TO SOLVE DISPUTE WITH EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER HUAWEI
CAT Telecom will set up a committee to seek ways to end the legal dispute between the state agency and China's telecom-equipment supplier Huawei Technologies relating to CAT's Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 1-x cellular network.
There is also a report that early this month the Chinese embassy in Thailand wrote to the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, urging it to seek a solution to the problem.
Krisda Kaweeyarn, chairman of the CAT executive committee, yesterday said his committee would propose for board approval today the establishment of a dispute-settlement panel, which would coordinate with Huawei on the matter.
He said both parties might have to agree to take a step back from their current stand-off in order to solve the problem.
In 2005, Huawei quoted Bt7.2 billion to win a contract from CAT to provide 1,600 base stations for the CDMA network to the state agency.
The project was divided into two phases, each featuring the supply of 800 base stations and eventually covering 51 provinces.
CAT, however, alleges that Huawei was late in delivering the second-phase network equipment.
Huawei has claimed the problem stemmed from different interpretations of the contract, which it said required it to deliver the second phase by January 2007, while the accompanying Evolution Data/Voice (EV-DV) high-speed data transmission system would be completely installed the following year.
But CAT reads the contract to mean the entire network, including software, had to be delivered by January 2007.
Huawei eventually installed the Evolution-Data Optimised (EV-DO) Release A system for CAT instead.
In December 2007, Huawei requested the Central Administrative Court to order CAT to pay the second instalment due on February 2007 of 25 per cent of the CDMA project value of Bt7.2 billion. The state enterprise had paid the first 25-per-cent instalment in 2006.
In January 2008, CAT took Huawei to the Central Administrative Court over alleged late delivery of the cellular network.
CAT has pinned its hopes on CDMA service being its flagship amid fiercer competition from private mobile-phone operators in its existing main business of overseas call service.
Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia, a joint venture between CAT and Hong Kong telecom giant Hutchison Telecom, has provided cellular service on a separate CDMA network in 25 provinces. Hutchison-CAT has leased the network from BFKT, which is wholly owned by Hutchison Telecom, to provide the service.
The state agency is in talks with Hutchison Telecom on the plan to take over the BFKT network and merge it with its network in 51 provinces, in order to strengthen its cellular-service marketing.
There is also a report that early this month the Chinese embassy in Thailand wrote to the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, urging it to seek a solution to the problem.
Krisda Kaweeyarn, chairman of the CAT executive committee, yesterday said his committee would propose for board approval today the establishment of a dispute-settlement panel, which would coordinate with Huawei on the matter.
He said both parties might have to agree to take a step back from their current stand-off in order to solve the problem.
In 2005, Huawei quoted Bt7.2 billion to win a contract from CAT to provide 1,600 base stations for the CDMA network to the state agency.
The project was divided into two phases, each featuring the supply of 800 base stations and eventually covering 51 provinces.
CAT, however, alleges that Huawei was late in delivering the second-phase network equipment.
Huawei has claimed the problem stemmed from different interpretations of the contract, which it said required it to deliver the second phase by January 2007, while the accompanying Evolution Data/Voice (EV-DV) high-speed data transmission system would be completely installed the following year.
But CAT reads the contract to mean the entire network, including software, had to be delivered by January 2007.
Huawei eventually installed the Evolution-Data Optimised (EV-DO) Release A system for CAT instead.
In December 2007, Huawei requested the Central Administrative Court to order CAT to pay the second instalment due on February 2007 of 25 per cent of the CDMA project value of Bt7.2 billion. The state enterprise had paid the first 25-per-cent instalment in 2006.
In January 2008, CAT took Huawei to the Central Administrative Court over alleged late delivery of the cellular network.
CAT has pinned its hopes on CDMA service being its flagship amid fiercer competition from private mobile-phone operators in its existing main business of overseas call service.
Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia, a joint venture between CAT and Hong Kong telecom giant Hutchison Telecom, has provided cellular service on a separate CDMA network in 25 provinces. Hutchison-CAT has leased the network from BFKT, which is wholly owned by Hutchison Telecom, to provide the service.
The state agency is in talks with Hutchison Telecom on the plan to take over the BFKT network and merge it with its network in 51 provinces, in order to strengthen its cellular-service marketing.
NTC nominations due soon
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry expects to soon submit to the Senate the names of candidates for the four vacant seats on the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
The NTC board is supposed to have seven members but currently has only three members.
Thaneerat Siripachana, chairman of the ministry's selection committee, said three positions were left vacant after members drew lots after finishing three years of service. But the directors are still playing an acting role although the lots were drawn two years ago.
Another seat was left vacant after board member Artorn Chantvimol resigned.
The law requires board members to draw lots to leave after finishing half of their six-year term of service.
Mr Thaneerat said 24 candidates had applied for the three vacant seats and a shortlist of six would be submitted to the Senate. Eleven people have applied for Mr Artorn's job and eight are still being screened. The committee will propose two names to the Senate.
By next month, he expected the full NTC board could be appointed.
The NTC board is supposed to have seven members but currently has only three members.
Thaneerat Siripachana, chairman of the ministry's selection committee, said three positions were left vacant after members drew lots after finishing three years of service. But the directors are still playing an acting role although the lots were drawn two years ago.
Another seat was left vacant after board member Artorn Chantvimol resigned.
The law requires board members to draw lots to leave after finishing half of their six-year term of service.
Mr Thaneerat said 24 candidates had applied for the three vacant seats and a shortlist of six would be submitted to the Senate. Eleven people have applied for Mr Artorn's job and eight are still being screened. The committee will propose two names to the Senate.
By next month, he expected the full NTC board could be appointed.
Thailand urged to reach for the cloud
Analyst are warning policymakers they need to pay attention and ensure Thailand doesn't miss out on the potential of cloud computing, which must become part of each country's ICT industry policy.
Dr Steve Hodgkinson, Research Director at Ovum, said after recent discussions with a range of public sector ICT policy executives across the Asia-Pacific region, it is apparent that cloud computing is on their radar - and that it is viewed by many as more of a threat than an opportunity.
In the past, governments have benefited symbiotically from the growth of global ICT companies,driving e-government innovations and establishing vibrant domestic ICT industries of channel and services partners.
However, cloud computing creates the potential for more complete encapsulation and offshoring of ICT soft-ware, platforms and infrastructure than has previously been possible. This could encourage an unprecedented vortex of ICT services into North American-based global cloud providers.
Cloud computing is a scale game bigger is better, and first movers become biggest first. Scale is required to provide the cloud with value proposition of ubiquitous access, seamless elastic capacity,competitive pricing and continuous investment in functionality and security.
The cloud is also a "build it and they will come" gamble, similar to a motorway. You need to have built excess capacity in the infrastructure up front to offer scalable and pay-as-you-go cloud services. The capacity to fund this upfront investment is a prerequisite for cloud leadership.
This is a challenging policy conundrum for governments. Leave it to the free market and risk local-market ICT jobs getting sucked offshore into a global cloud, or take proactive policy action. It won't be possible to close the borders or put import tariffs on the cloud.
A necessary self-defence
ICT policy executives should be considering the risks and opportunities cloud computing presents. Cloud computing may lead to undesirable offshoring of data, as well as jobs. The fact that the cloud is global while legal systems are national creates unavoidable data security and privacy tensions.
The creation of national cloud computing entities can address both issues.National clouds will provide onshore opportunities for the local ICT industry and promote the trustworthiness of cloud computing by enabling data to stay within governance arrangements that are compliant with national legislation.
However, who in a small or mediumsized country can compete with the likes of Amazon, Google, IBM or Microsoft?
Govt, national telcos form G-cloud
In practice, leadership of the strategy for a country's participation in cloud computing must come from the government, using two main levers: industry policy and the government's own internal ICT spend. Governments need to decide how they should add momentum to the development of onshore clouds.
Investment requirements mean that there are not too many other players in a country's domestic market with the motivation and resources required to build cloud computing infrastructure in competition with the global ICT giants.
The largest national telcos are perhaps the best candidates to partner with governments, as they at least have some of the required resources and are similarly focused on a largely national, as opposed to global, market.
Governments need to think ahead on this one rather than risk the disappearance of their local ICT industry.
Dr Steve Hodgkinson, Research Director at Ovum, said after recent discussions with a range of public sector ICT policy executives across the Asia-Pacific region, it is apparent that cloud computing is on their radar - and that it is viewed by many as more of a threat than an opportunity.
In the past, governments have benefited symbiotically from the growth of global ICT companies,driving e-government innovations and establishing vibrant domestic ICT industries of channel and services partners.
However, cloud computing creates the potential for more complete encapsulation and offshoring of ICT soft-ware, platforms and infrastructure than has previously been possible. This could encourage an unprecedented vortex of ICT services into North American-based global cloud providers.
Cloud computing is a scale game bigger is better, and first movers become biggest first. Scale is required to provide the cloud with value proposition of ubiquitous access, seamless elastic capacity,competitive pricing and continuous investment in functionality and security.
The cloud is also a "build it and they will come" gamble, similar to a motorway. You need to have built excess capacity in the infrastructure up front to offer scalable and pay-as-you-go cloud services. The capacity to fund this upfront investment is a prerequisite for cloud leadership.
This is a challenging policy conundrum for governments. Leave it to the free market and risk local-market ICT jobs getting sucked offshore into a global cloud, or take proactive policy action. It won't be possible to close the borders or put import tariffs on the cloud.
A necessary self-defence
ICT policy executives should be considering the risks and opportunities cloud computing presents. Cloud computing may lead to undesirable offshoring of data, as well as jobs. The fact that the cloud is global while legal systems are national creates unavoidable data security and privacy tensions.
The creation of national cloud computing entities can address both issues.National clouds will provide onshore opportunities for the local ICT industry and promote the trustworthiness of cloud computing by enabling data to stay within governance arrangements that are compliant with national legislation.
However, who in a small or mediumsized country can compete with the likes of Amazon, Google, IBM or Microsoft?
Govt, national telcos form G-cloud
In practice, leadership of the strategy for a country's participation in cloud computing must come from the government, using two main levers: industry policy and the government's own internal ICT spend. Governments need to decide how they should add momentum to the development of onshore clouds.
Investment requirements mean that there are not too many other players in a country's domestic market with the motivation and resources required to build cloud computing infrastructure in competition with the global ICT giants.
The largest national telcos are perhaps the best candidates to partner with governments, as they at least have some of the required resources and are similarly focused on a largely national, as opposed to global, market.
Governments need to think ahead on this one rather than risk the disappearance of their local ICT industry.
Paving the way for a creative economy
Despite the software market expecting zero growth this year compared to last year's growth of 11 percent, innovative advanced technologies and a white ocean strategy will open new opportunities for software developers and pave the way for Thailand to enter the creative economy, according to Patama Chantaruck, managing director, Microsoft (Thailand).
Moreover, the new Windows 7 operating systemwhich will be launched in October will open business opportunities for a new variety of applications that support multi-touch technology.
For example, restaurants and hotels may develop food ordering by allowing guests to touch or press the menu on the display on more than one point at the same time.
In addition, Microsoft also has a new Microsoft Partner Network which helps to connect and match businesses for different partners in each country in the region.
This will help Thai software developers, especially small sized companies,to leverage their expertise and expand outside the country with lower costs or bring in external partners to fulfill or support the customer base.
Jirawit Maeprasart, Intel Microelectronics (Thailand), Strategist-Emerging Market Enabling Software Solution group, said powerful hardware from multi-core processors and graphics processing units (GPU) and virtualisation technology are driving high performance computing (HPC) and cloud computing.
Most existing software used sequential programs which are more appropriate for single core CPUs but if developers would like to leverage multicore technology they should use parallel programming or multi-threaded programming.
There is evidence to show that after Intel has introduced selective software companies can learn new technological trends.
For example, financial specialists Wealth Management System changed some part of its code to support parallel programming. After this, the company increased its software performance from supporting 10 concurrent users to 2,000 concurrent users.
The new programming also helped to utilise CPU power from the average 40 percent up to 95 percent.
Jirawit added that cloud computing is opening new opportunities for independent software vendors to create business models such as building applications and offering software as a service model (SaaS).
However, Thai software developers need to strengthen their English communication skills and shift their focus from the domestic market because technology like web 2.0 and cloud computing can help them to expand their international market at a lower cost.
Sunicha Eckachai, IBM Thailand,business development manager, IBM Academic Initiative, added that software quality management is critical for developers to audit the quality of software and reduce the cost of development.
Prinya Hom-Anek, president of ACIS Professional Centre, said many emerging security standards will affect IT companies such as information security ISMS, IT Service Management System (ITSMS) and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) for IT service business and CMMI for software processing.
There is a coming trend called "Information Security Governance" or ISG which is a subset of corporate governance focused on information security systems and their performance and risk management.
ISG helps IT bridge the gap between IT and businesses and align or embed IT with business strategy.
Software the key to a creative economy
Software Park Thailand director Suwipa Wanasathop sees that there are a lot of opportunities in the world market and that Thailand can make software one of the creative industries to support the government's policy to make Thailand a creative economy.
The country can enable software to boost other sectors, especially healthcare, tourism and food which are core business concerns for Thailand.
The country has hospital management systems for healthcare, food traceability software for the food industry and hotel management systems for hospitality industry.
White ocean with niche expertise
Suwipa suggests that under this dynamic environment the important thing for software houses to keep in mind is the quality of software and services which are comprised of project management, good architecture, security and testing to help improve the quality.
Moreover, innovation of products and services is the key to differentiating from competitors and companies have to use their expertise to find niche markets.
Software Park Thailand is currently linked with other software park operators in Asia and Oceania to form the Asia Oceania Software Park Alliance to help other member countries to pave the way in the target market.
Moreover, the member may join hands to go pursue "third country markets". For instance, Thailand has food traceability software which supports halal food standards, while Brunei has a strong relationship with the Middle Eastern halal food market. So Thailand and Brunei can join hands in the Middle East.
Software Park also incorporates selected local software companies that support in some specific sectors like food, healthcare and hospitality to bring them to work together and offer total solutions to the target customers in that sector.
Ramade Sillapaprom, president of the Soft Square group which has 12 subsidiary companies employing a total of 400 people, said software businesses are mainly small companies with a small number of staff so the best way to survive in business would be to find a niche and use a white ocean strategy.
In his company model, employees can start their own businesses or joint ventures and work together if they have a big project or can combine expertise to meet the requirements of customers.
"You have to find your niche in design, architecture, even in programming. When you get a key project, you just find other companies who have a missing component to deliver the project together. This helps small companies not to handle a lot of head counts," Ramede explained.
Business exchange: bridge social network
Dr Chachanat Thebtaranonth, vice president of NSTDA and director of the Technology Management Centre,said advanced technologies like social networks help to connect business partners but there is still a need to meet and exchange ideas in the physical world to accelerate business opportunities and collaboration.
However, the economic recession has caused the number of ICT events to be postponed or cut due to budgetary concerns and this in turn has reduced the social dimension of the IT industry.
So Software Park Thailand under the TMC has teamed up with IT partners to organise the "Software Park Annual Conference 2009". Among the event's highlights are panel discussions on white ocean strategy for a creative society and other topics and exhibition booths by leading IT vendors as well as a showcase of new technology.
The event will take place at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on August 26 under the theme business opportunities with IT in the creative economy. The event will help to bring physical social network with all stakeholders for IT people.
Moreover, the new Windows 7 operating systemwhich will be launched in October will open business opportunities for a new variety of applications that support multi-touch technology.
For example, restaurants and hotels may develop food ordering by allowing guests to touch or press the menu on the display on more than one point at the same time.
In addition, Microsoft also has a new Microsoft Partner Network which helps to connect and match businesses for different partners in each country in the region.
This will help Thai software developers, especially small sized companies,to leverage their expertise and expand outside the country with lower costs or bring in external partners to fulfill or support the customer base.
Jirawit Maeprasart, Intel Microelectronics (Thailand), Strategist-Emerging Market Enabling Software Solution group, said powerful hardware from multi-core processors and graphics processing units (GPU) and virtualisation technology are driving high performance computing (HPC) and cloud computing.
Most existing software used sequential programs which are more appropriate for single core CPUs but if developers would like to leverage multicore technology they should use parallel programming or multi-threaded programming.
There is evidence to show that after Intel has introduced selective software companies can learn new technological trends.
For example, financial specialists Wealth Management System changed some part of its code to support parallel programming. After this, the company increased its software performance from supporting 10 concurrent users to 2,000 concurrent users.
The new programming also helped to utilise CPU power from the average 40 percent up to 95 percent.
Jirawit added that cloud computing is opening new opportunities for independent software vendors to create business models such as building applications and offering software as a service model (SaaS).
However, Thai software developers need to strengthen their English communication skills and shift their focus from the domestic market because technology like web 2.0 and cloud computing can help them to expand their international market at a lower cost.
Sunicha Eckachai, IBM Thailand,business development manager, IBM Academic Initiative, added that software quality management is critical for developers to audit the quality of software and reduce the cost of development.
Prinya Hom-Anek, president of ACIS Professional Centre, said many emerging security standards will affect IT companies such as information security ISMS, IT Service Management System (ITSMS) and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) for IT service business and CMMI for software processing.
There is a coming trend called "Information Security Governance" or ISG which is a subset of corporate governance focused on information security systems and their performance and risk management.
ISG helps IT bridge the gap between IT and businesses and align or embed IT with business strategy.
Software the key to a creative economy
Software Park Thailand director Suwipa Wanasathop sees that there are a lot of opportunities in the world market and that Thailand can make software one of the creative industries to support the government's policy to make Thailand a creative economy.
The country can enable software to boost other sectors, especially healthcare, tourism and food which are core business concerns for Thailand.
The country has hospital management systems for healthcare, food traceability software for the food industry and hotel management systems for hospitality industry.
White ocean with niche expertise
Suwipa suggests that under this dynamic environment the important thing for software houses to keep in mind is the quality of software and services which are comprised of project management, good architecture, security and testing to help improve the quality.
Moreover, innovation of products and services is the key to differentiating from competitors and companies have to use their expertise to find niche markets.
Software Park Thailand is currently linked with other software park operators in Asia and Oceania to form the Asia Oceania Software Park Alliance to help other member countries to pave the way in the target market.
Moreover, the member may join hands to go pursue "third country markets". For instance, Thailand has food traceability software which supports halal food standards, while Brunei has a strong relationship with the Middle Eastern halal food market. So Thailand and Brunei can join hands in the Middle East.
Software Park also incorporates selected local software companies that support in some specific sectors like food, healthcare and hospitality to bring them to work together and offer total solutions to the target customers in that sector.
Ramade Sillapaprom, president of the Soft Square group which has 12 subsidiary companies employing a total of 400 people, said software businesses are mainly small companies with a small number of staff so the best way to survive in business would be to find a niche and use a white ocean strategy.
In his company model, employees can start their own businesses or joint ventures and work together if they have a big project or can combine expertise to meet the requirements of customers.
"You have to find your niche in design, architecture, even in programming. When you get a key project, you just find other companies who have a missing component to deliver the project together. This helps small companies not to handle a lot of head counts," Ramede explained.
Business exchange: bridge social network
Dr Chachanat Thebtaranonth, vice president of NSTDA and director of the Technology Management Centre,said advanced technologies like social networks help to connect business partners but there is still a need to meet and exchange ideas in the physical world to accelerate business opportunities and collaboration.
However, the economic recession has caused the number of ICT events to be postponed or cut due to budgetary concerns and this in turn has reduced the social dimension of the IT industry.
So Software Park Thailand under the TMC has teamed up with IT partners to organise the "Software Park Annual Conference 2009". Among the event's highlights are panel discussions on white ocean strategy for a creative society and other topics and exhibition booths by leading IT vendors as well as a showcase of new technology.
The event will take place at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on August 26 under the theme business opportunities with IT in the creative economy. The event will help to bring physical social network with all stakeholders for IT people.
Buying furniture before the house is built
Dr Sumet Tantivejkul told us about a contest to make a personal quick dish served with brown rice, held recently by the Thai Rice Foundation under Royal Patronage, of which he is the chairman, and inviting candidates from neighbouring countries.
Malaysia took first place as they could effectively explain the nutritional value of each single ingredient. Thailand finished third.
"Many Thais are basically subject to superficial concerns - the visual decoration - but cannot further explain what they are doing," said the Thai Rice Foundation chairman.
Likewise, he said, more than half of Thailand's IT utilisation is inferior, and that the society as a whole suffers from a lack of foundation.
"I compare this to the house that has not yet been built, but the furniture has already been moved in.
"We cannot access to the heart of substance because of no foundations have been laid, and its appalling effects are still around today.
Thailand's IT industry was born at roughly the same time as Singapore's. While Thailand concentrated on hardware, Singapore's priority has been to forbid the government agencies to buy computers. Instead they ask American universities to settle their human resource development programs and IT curricula for bachelor and master's degrees.
Singapore meanwhile has a committee to consider structure and specification of hardware.
This combines with a well-timed system that sees graduates ready to start work at the right time,.
However, Thailand today still has a big stockpile of computers scattering around the country, but lacks enough people with IT skills and qualifications to deal with them.
Dr Sumet said: "What is strange about Thailand is that the best technicians have skills but no formal education. Their expertise comes from self-learning and practice, but when they come to a certain level they cannot further develop due to lacking a strong academic foundation."
The solution, Dr Sumet suggested, is that the entire loop must be revamped.
"But the problem is 'integration', and 'holistic approaches'; all these buzz words that have been bandied around.
"But when professionals perform, they work independently".
Malaysia took first place as they could effectively explain the nutritional value of each single ingredient. Thailand finished third.
"Many Thais are basically subject to superficial concerns - the visual decoration - but cannot further explain what they are doing," said the Thai Rice Foundation chairman.
Likewise, he said, more than half of Thailand's IT utilisation is inferior, and that the society as a whole suffers from a lack of foundation.
"I compare this to the house that has not yet been built, but the furniture has already been moved in.
"We cannot access to the heart of substance because of no foundations have been laid, and its appalling effects are still around today.
Thailand's IT industry was born at roughly the same time as Singapore's. While Thailand concentrated on hardware, Singapore's priority has been to forbid the government agencies to buy computers. Instead they ask American universities to settle their human resource development programs and IT curricula for bachelor and master's degrees.
Singapore meanwhile has a committee to consider structure and specification of hardware.
This combines with a well-timed system that sees graduates ready to start work at the right time,.
However, Thailand today still has a big stockpile of computers scattering around the country, but lacks enough people with IT skills and qualifications to deal with them.
Dr Sumet said: "What is strange about Thailand is that the best technicians have skills but no formal education. Their expertise comes from self-learning and practice, but when they come to a certain level they cannot further develop due to lacking a strong academic foundation."
The solution, Dr Sumet suggested, is that the entire loop must be revamped.
"But the problem is 'integration', and 'holistic approaches'; all these buzz words that have been bandied around.
"But when professionals perform, they work independently".
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