His Majesty the King has approved the appointment of four new members to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) board, according to NTC acting secretary Thakorn Boonyasith. The four new members are Suranand Wongwittyakamjorn, Col Natee Sukolrat,Banthoon Suphakvanich and Phana Thongmeearchom. Three of them replaced members who resigned by drawing lots in 2007 after finishing half of their six-year terms. A fourth member had resigned for health reasons in 2006. Col Natee said that his priority would be to revive the stalled auction process for 3G mobile broadband licences.

Total Access Communication (DTAC) is expected to launch aggressive promotions for iPhones after clinching a deal with Apple to market the trendy smartphones here. DTAC said in a release yesterday that it had already reached a distribution agreement with Apple. While DTAC executives declined to comment, it has been speculated that DTAC would offer the iPhone 3G and 3GS models next month. (The Nation)

Total Access Communication (DTAC) has set aside Bt6b for capital expenditure this year, the same as last year, to maintain a high free cash flow for its investment in third-generation wireless broadband service. CEO Tore Johnsen yesterday said the amount was in line with forecasts there would be only 3m to 4m new mobile-phone subscribers this year in the market. DTAC is expected to add more than 30 per cent of them to its network.

TOT yesterday said it might not be easy to let Advanced Info Service roam with its third generation network anytime soon even though both of them had already agreed to talk about a possible deal.

Total Access Communication (DTAC) has targeted high single-digit revenue growth this year, for both mobile phone services and handset and smartphone sales, after its mobile phone service revenues fell 2.9 per cent last year.

Lower interconnection fees may leave room to cut airtime rates: The finalisation of a relatively low interconnection charge between CAT Telecom and Total Access Communication(DTAC) by the board of the telecom regulator could see a new price war erupt in the industry.

Legislation establishing a new broadcasting and telecom regulator is expected to come into force later this year, PM’s Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said yesterday. (The Nation)

Advanced Info Service has lost face because TOT failed to provide the country’s largest mobile operator with data roaming services on its 3G network as agreed,says its chief executive. Wichian Mektrakarn made the comments yesterday after he and vicechairman Somprasong Boonyachai met with TOT executives to discuss their roaming agreements. AIS had told its subscribers that they could use data roaming on TOT’s 3G network from Monday, but the state enterprise did not provide the service. Mr Wichian said AIS agreed to wait for direction on the matter from the National Telecommunications Commission’s board,

which will meet today.

Advanced Info Service will talk with its state-concession owner TOT today in an effort to find a way out of their conflict related to third-generation networks, which has led to threats to disconnect subscribers’ roaming capacity. (The Nation)

Advanced Info Service will disconnect TOT’s third-generation for voice service on its network on Monday in reaction to the state agency’s refusal to allow its subscribers to roam with TOT’s 3G network for data-service access. (The Nation)