State telecom enterprise TOT will halve its fee for rental of its underground cable conduits from this month to ease the financial burden shouldered by telecom and broadcasting operators, in compliance with the government policy to put overhead cables in Bangkok underground at a reduced cost.
The new rate is set at 4,825 baht per kilometre per sub-duct, reduced from 9,650 baht, according to TOT senior executive vice-president Morakot Thienmontree.
The move complies with the policy of Digital Economy and Society (DES) minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta and supported by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
TOT indicates its conduits stretch about 2,000km in Bangkok, some parts of which are under roads because of road expansions. The conduit project has gradually been developed over the past decade.
Mr Morakot said TOT will gain another 1,000km in conduit length this year after its concessionaire for TOT's fixed-line business transfers all the concession assets to TOT under a build-transfer-operate condition.
"A combined 3,000km of TOT conduits should make the government policy of putting existing overhead cables underground easier and faster than earlier targeted," he said.
One conduit consists of three sub-ducts. Each sub-duct contains three micro sub-ducts. Telecom and broadcasting operators rent conduit capacity (either sub-ducts or micro-ducts) based on the quantity, size and length of their cables.
Mr Buddhipongse last month ordered TOT to map out its existing 2,000km of underground cable conduits and all related details so the new conduit project is not redundant. This information will be discussed with the NBTC.
The new conduit project plan will be discussed with the National Digital Economy and Society Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Mr Buddhipongse said if the new plan is clear and agreed on by related parties, the construction of conduits could be completed at a reduced cost.
He said the ministry wants to see progress on the project before the end of this quarter.
Mr Buddhipongse told the Bangkok Post the new conduit project would not be disrupted by measures to stem the coronavirus pandemic, including a 10pm-4am curfew still in place. On the contrary, the project should be easier to carry out because of reduced traffic, he said.
Mr Buddhipongse talked to TOT executives about some existing conduits that may need to be fixed and reused. The new conduit project carried out by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration may only extend from TOT's conduits.
Mr Morakot said once TOT's existing conduits are fixed, reconnecting signals through underground cables can be done in 15-20 seconds, which should not affect customers.