SRISAMORN PHOOSUPHANUSORN
Advanced Info Service (AIS) is suing the operator of the tiny Hutch mobile service for 45 billion baht, claiming damage to its reputation from allegations that it was blocking calls from Hutch users.
AIS president Wichian Mektrakarn said the Civil Court had accepted the case, which was filed three weeks ago against Hutchison CAT Wireless Multimedia and all of its directors.
''We have no other means but to seek justice from the court to salvage our corporate reputation,'' he said yesterday.
AIS has 24 million customers compared to Hutch's 800,000.
He said the compensation was based on the recent AIS share price decline, business opportunity loss, potential revenue from interconnection charges (IC), marketing and advertising expenses to correct misleading media reports.
''We have no idea of compromise with Hutch and are waiting for its legal team to provide advice,'' he said.
Hutch asked the Civil Court in March to order the country's largest mobile operator to stop blocking traffic from Hutch customers. It cited data from Hutch technicians to support a claim that AIS had intentionally attempted to block call traffic.
Hutch sought compensation of 30 billion baht for lost business opportunity and revenue, saying its average call completion rate to AIS from March 4-28 was below 25%, from 64% normally.
Mr Wichian denied any wrongdoing and said Hutch's dropped-call problem stemmed solely from its own heavy promotions. He added the traffic from Hutch to the AIS network increased by 72% in February alone.
He also said that Hutch could still provide rock-bottom tariff plans because it had delayed entering an IC agreement with other operators.
Hutch has proposed an IC rate of 21 satang a minute for calls to other networks. AIS and second-ranked DTAC want Hutch to pay one baht per minute.
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Advanced Info Service (AIS) is suing the operator of the tiny Hutch mobile service for 45 billion baht, claiming damage to its reputation from allegations that it was blocking calls from Hutch users.
AIS president Wichian Mektrakarn said the Civil Court had accepted the case, which was filed three weeks ago against Hutchison CAT Wireless Multimedia and all of its directors.
''We have no other means but to seek justice from the court to salvage our corporate reputation,'' he said yesterday.
AIS has 24 million customers compared to Hutch's 800,000.
He said the compensation was based on the recent AIS share price decline, business opportunity loss, potential revenue from interconnection charges (IC), marketing and advertising expenses to correct misleading media reports.
''We have no idea of compromise with Hutch and are waiting for its legal team to provide advice,'' he said.
Hutch asked the Civil Court in March to order the country's largest mobile operator to stop blocking traffic from Hutch customers. It cited data from Hutch technicians to support a claim that AIS had intentionally attempted to block call traffic.
Hutch sought compensation of 30 billion baht for lost business opportunity and revenue, saying its average call completion rate to AIS from March 4-28 was below 25%, from 64% normally.
Mr Wichian denied any wrongdoing and said Hutch's dropped-call problem stemmed solely from its own heavy promotions. He added the traffic from Hutch to the AIS network increased by 72% in February alone.
He also said that Hutch could still provide rock-bottom tariff plans because it had delayed entering an IC agreement with other operators.
Hutch has proposed an IC rate of 21 satang a minute for calls to other networks. AIS and second-ranked DTAC want Hutch to pay one baht per minute.
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
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