NEW DELHI, India—TA Orange, the much-awaited GSM operator in Thailand, launched its commercial services on 27 March, amid confusion created by the row between DTAC and the Telecom Organization of Thailand (TOT) over payment of access fees to the government agency.
TA Orange has set an ambitious target of breaking even within two years and grabbing a 30-percent share of the local mobile-phone market. TA Orange hopes to register 1 million subscribers by the end of 2002.
The new operator launched limited service a few weeks ago, but its commercial launch coincides with the TOT threat to withdraw its interconnect facility to more than 3 million subscribers of DTAC, the second-largest mobile service provider in Thailand, if it fails to pay dues relating to access fees.
However, the crisis has been averted for the time being, as DTAC has now deposited a check for 1.1 billion baht (US$25.3 million) with the Administrative Court. The company said the money would be paid to TOT if the court ruled against it.
