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Thai TV Co will shut down its two digital TV channels, while insisting it will not pay the second instalment of its upfront licence fees by today’s deadline.

Earlier, the company faced a 90-day suspension of its licenses to broadcast the Thai TV news channel and MVTV Family channel, formerly known as Loca, for failing to pay the second instalment.

Cleaning industry eyes growth

The cleaning industry in Asean is expected to grow by 20 per cent through 2016, according to companies in the sector.

Thailand has among the highest numbers of commercial and residential buildings in Asean, with 140,000 factories and more than 50 industrial estates, and that will help create opportunities for new technologies and services. Meanwhile Asean has also proved to be favourable for the professional cleaning industry.

Afidamp Servizi, a branch of Afidamp, the Italian Association of Professional Cleaning Equipment Manufacturers, and Impact Exhibition Management plan to host the second edition of “PUIRE Asia Pacific”, a regional cleaning-industry expo, in Bangkok from September 21-23.

cassava imports monitored

To prevent an influx of cassava from neighbouring countries hurting Thai farmers, the Commerce Ministry is stringently controlling imports of cassava, particularly across the Thai-Cambodian border, said Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department.

The ministry is cooperating with the Customs Department, the Agriculture Department, and local administrative officers to inspect crop imports, especially cassava, to prevent smuggling.

According to the department, Thailand is expected to produce about 28 million tonnes of cassava this year, while the Kingdom needs about 40 million tonnes for its own use each year. The price of cassava is now Bt2.10 per kilogram, while the cost of production is Bt1.90 a kilo.

Railway hub proposed

The Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning Office yesterday proposed the development of the Phaholyothin Mass Transit Centre project to become a sub-centre of northern Bangkok and a hub of the national railway network. The conceptual design of the project, called Zone D, covering 125 rai (20 hectares) was presented to more than 200 representatives of the public and private sectors at its first public hearing in Bangkok.

The development plan of the project was designed under the “Garden Interchange Plaza” concept, which will mix the railway facilities with gardens.

The project will be aimed at becoming an interchange terminal for Bang Sue Central Station, which will serve riders of commuter trains and the Airport Rail Link, intercity standard-gauge trains, and metro lines.

TOT announces performance forecast

TOT targets revenue of around Bt50 billion this year and forecasts expenses of Bt60 billion, according to acting president Montchai Noonsong.

The state agency has forecast EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) of Bt4 billion this year versus an EBITDA loss of Bt1.4 billion last year.

TOT is expected to sign on to a partnership with Advanced Info Service this quarter to provide third-generation telecom service on the state agency’s 2.1-gigahertz spectrum.