Bangkok -(Dow Jones)- Total Access Communication PCL (T05.SG), or DTAC, said Wednesday it plans to invest THB8.5 billion ($212.5 million) this year to expand and improve its mobile network.
Nokia Corp. (NOK) will supply wireless communications devices to DTAC, Thailand's second-largest mobile phone operator after Advanced Info Service PCL (ADVANC.TH), the Singapore-listed company said in a statement.
The cellular phone operator will build more 1,000 base stations to expand its service area to cover the entire nation, in a move to accommodate increasing demand and improve signal quality, DTAC said.
DTAC currently has around 8.4 million subscribers, about half the number of subscribers of rival Advanced Info Service PCL, which was founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Penetration rate of the mobile-phone industry in Thailand now is approximately 40% of total population, or around 6.4 million people.
DTAC's major shareholders are Thailand's United Communication Industry PCL (UCOM.TH), which holds a 42% stake, and Norway's Telenor ASA (TELN), which owns 30%.
-By Maytinee Wasumadee, Dow Jones Newswires; 662-266-0744; maytinee.wasumadee@dowjones.com
-Edited by Leslie Shaffer
(END) Dow Jones Newswires"
Posted to the site on 25th May 2005
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/12951.php