SL Consortium wins 3G project

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.

The other contender in the auction, the AU consortium of Advanced Information Technology, Alcatel-Lucent (Thailand) and United Communication Industry, bid Bt16.777 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.

China to build massive trade center in Thailand

BANGKOK (AP) — China plans to build a massive $1.5 billion commercial complex in Thailand that will enable traders to send "Made In China" goods around the world without paying pricey tariffs often imposed in the West, Thai officials and Chinese state media said.

The China City Complex is expected to house more than 70,000 Chinese traders in a sprawling 5.4 million square-foot (500,000 square-meter) facility to be built on the eastern outskirts of Bangkok, Vijit Yang, chairman of the ASEAN-China Economic and Trade Promotion Association said Friday.

China signed a free trade agreement with Southeast Asian countries in January 2010 that reduces or removes tariffs on traded goods. Passing the goods through Thailand will allow Chinese traders to avoid the tariffs imposed by the U.S. and the European Union on many of their exports, said Vijit.

The plan will also give the appearance of reducing China's trade deficit with those countries, which hit $16.8 billion with the U.S. in November and $13.6 billion with the EU.

The surplus has become an increasingly sensitive issue in the EU and the U.S., which buy the vast bulk of China's exports, prompting traders to look for other ways of penetrating those markets.

Overall, China's trade has remained robust despite the global economic crisis. Exports in November jumped 34.9 percent from a year earlier to $153.3 billion, boosted by a surge in sales to other developing economies, which are recovering from the crisis faster than the U.S. and Europe.

The China Daily said the commercial center will sell Chinese-made garments, ornaments and household items, among other things.

Thailand's Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot traveled to China on Wednesday to woo investors, the China Daily said.

Construction is scheduled to begin in March and take 18 months to complete, said Vijit, who is overseeing the project, according to the Thai Commerce Ministry.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled to chair a ceremony in Bangkok to officially unveil the project on Jan. 18.