AIS cuts down investment on its 3G network infrastructure

Thailand's telecom operator Advanced Info Service [AIS] has said that it plans to scale back expenditure on it upcoming 3G network infrastructure. According to the Bangkok Post, AIS has slashed its budget for 3G network infrastructure for FY09 to $150 million, just 25% of the originally allocated $600 million. The telecom player has also been forced to cut down the size of its new network, which means that it 3G network would now blanket only 10 provinces, as against 20 planned previously. This comes close to the heels of an announcement by the firm's rival DTAC that it was planning to defer the launch of its 3G network.