AIS Sees 2008 Revenue Growth of 7% to 8%; Eyes 3G Rollout

BANGKOK -(Dow Jones)- Advanced Info Service, Thailand's largest mobile phone operator by subscribers, expects revenue growth this year of 7% to 8%, vice president Pornrat Janenarassakul said Friday.

The company also expects to be granted a license for third generation telecommunications services in the second quarter of next year, he said.

Advanced Info plans to invest THB25 billion in expanding its business next year, around 80%-90% of which is earmarked for 3G infrastructure and operations, compared with THB14 billion to THB15 billion set for this year, said Pornrat.

The company intends to invest an additional THB25 billion in each of the following two years before lowering its annual investment spending to about THB10 billion, he said.

-By Bangkok Bureau, Dow Jones Newswires; 662-266-0744; djnews.bangkok@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

Posted to the site on 22nd August 2008