Advanced Info Service (AIS), the country's largest mobile operator, says it will set up an infrastructure fund in the mould of its smaller rival True Move's if its concession owner allows it to do so.
Chief executive Wichian Mektrakarn said AIS is in talks with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry and TOT over whether AIS has the right to reclaim its 15,000 second-generation (2G) base stations that have already been transferred to the state telecom enterprise.
Under the build-transfer-operate deal with TOT, AIS must transfer all its telecom equipment to its concession owner TOT once the concession expires in 2015.
True Move has yet to transfer its 8,000 2G base stations to CAT Telecom despite the concession's expiry this September.
The third-ranked operator together with CAT is preparing to launch an infrastructure fund this year.
"Our idea is just to follow True Move and receive the same fair treatment," said Mr Wichian.
CAT signed a memorandum of understanding with True Move to share cellular tower infrastructure with the private company. The state enterprise has already submitted the proposal to the Finance Ministry, bypassing an approval process with the ICT Ministry.
Under the deal, CAT will set up a subsidiary to allow True Move to transfer the right to use cellular towers to the newly established unit after the concession expires.
CAT will own the entire shareholding stake in the subsidiary during the first stage before scaling back to 51%. True Move will then hold the remaining 49%.
Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap, the ICT minister, said he has not seen the infrastructure fund proposal between True and CAT.
He warned that CAT needs approval from the ICT Ministry before entering into a contract with True.
CAT chief executive Kittisak Sriprasert acknowledged that even though True Move agreed last December to transfer the 8000 base stations before the concession ends, the company has yet to relinquish them.