As expected, the SL consortium of Loxley-Samart-Nokia Siemens Networks-Huawei Technologies yesterday won the e-auction of the TOT project to establish a nationwide third-generation telecom network by bidding Bt16.29 billion, down 6.59 per cent from the state agency's budget for the project of Bt17.44 billion.
Of the four consortia that submitted bid documents, only these two were qualified by TOT to join the e-auction.
Information and Communications Technology Minister Chuti Krairiksh said he was not happy with the price, saying it should be lower.
A telecom-industry source said the winning consortium was expected to lower the price to about Bt16 billion in the cost-negotiation round.
The project will see TOT establish a nationwide 3G wireless broadband network on the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum. If things go as planned, TOT will launch the initial phase in major provinces in April before going countrywide in one year.
TOT acting president Noppanut Hutacharoen said the agency had conducted all procedures related to the e-auction transparently.
TOT e-auction committee chairman Anont Tubtiang said he was satisfied with the price. Anont, who is one of five contenders for the TOT presidency, added that the committee would submit the result for the acting president's approval on Monday and then to the TOT board for consideration. The agency is expected to award the contract in mid-February.
Samart Corp president Watchai Vilailuck said Samart would use Nokia and Huawei equipment and install the network in the Central, Eastern and Southern regions at a total cost of Bt10 billion. Loxley will use Huawei equipment and install the network in the North and Northeast, for a total cost of about B6 billion.
He said the consortium would also launch an auction to seek subcontractors to install the so-called outside plant system. The consortium is required to finish installing 5,000 base stations within one year.
When asked if the project had gained full political blessing, Watchai just said the Thailand telecommunications industry had been a politically associated business, and declined to elaborate.
Samart's share price rose 9.76 per cent to close at Bt9, while that of Loxley rose 5.34 per cent to close at Bt2.76.
Recently Watchai said that if Samart could bag the 3G project, its ICT business revenue would be expected to reach Bt16 billion this year.
The Central Administrative Court on Thursday night rejected the requests of the two disqualified bidders - the Ericsson-led consortium and the Forth Corp-ZTE consortium - for an injunction to delay the auction on the grounds of doubts over the fairness of the TOT's qualification process.
There is a report that each of them had planned to quote a price of about Bt10 billion in their bids.
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