Up-Date:
Thailand
Thailand's recent election bodes well for the future of our joint venture in the kingdom. (YES! It absolutely DOES!) Nearly a year of governmental and regulatory paralysis caused by political uncertainty and shifting internal alliances should now be coming to an end. The seemingly never-ending struggle between the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) and the Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) should finally be resolved now that all the elections are over and a new government is in place.
We continue, jointly with our partners at WSTV, to hold the frequency licenses in Bangkok, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
We have noted before the issues involving ISPs and the on-going rivalry CAT and TOT, two semi-autonomous entities within the Ministry of Communications. It is expected that with the new government, the TOT will be allowed to provide international connectivity to ISP's through Malaysia and elsewhere, thereby allowing the ISPs to avoid the requirement of the CA for a substantial ownership position in each ISP. Once these internecine disputes are resolved, WLGS and its Thai partner WSTV will be able to plan for the commencement of revenue service. (Of all the possibilities today, I see Thailand ranking SECOND only to INDIA as WLGS's 'best hope')
