Thailand Fibre-Optic Network Construction `Still on Schedule'.

Sep. 3--Only 5 percent of the work on the national fibre-optic network has been completed but the Telephone Organisation of Thailand insists that the system will be completed on schedule by September next year.

Physical construction had not yet begun and the project was 10 months behind schedule, due mainly to problems in dealing with various government agencies, according to TOT president Sutham Malila.

"For example, we have not yet received permission from the Highways Department for road digging to lay the fibre-optic lines. As well, blueprints drawn up by Alcatel, the bid winner, also need approval from various government agencies," he said.

"Since construction of the network is nationwide, we have to seek approval from each province where the cable is laid to on a case-by-case basis. This will take time."

Permission from electricity authorities to string cable between their power poles is also needed.

Alcatel won the bid to construct the project in March last year at a cost of 7.6 billion baht. The project, commonly known as SDH for its synchronous digital hierarchy technology, was already years behind schedule as earlier bids had been scrapped amid allegations of irregularities.

Despite all the initial headaches, Mr Sutham said some critical problems also had been solved.