ICT Minister Uttama Savanayana made the announcement but said the ministry expected to announce the TOR this month so TOT could start procuring the equipment.

The ministry assigned TOT to draw up the specifications for the equipment so the ministry could develop the TOR.

A ministry source said that as the ministry had to draw up the TOR in strict compliance with the related procurement law, this process took time. The project should have started last month but was now expected to start in October, the source added.

After the ministry awards the project contract to TOT, the agency has to install broadband Internet access in 2,500 villages within 150 days before rising to 6,000 villages within 180 days, 10,000 villages within 210 days, 13,000 villages within 240 days, 16,000 villages within 270 day, 19,000 villages within 300 days, 21,000 villages within 330 days and reach all 24,700 villages within 365 days.

The Cabinet approved a Bt20-billion budget for this project in January for the ICT Ministry to roll out broadband Internet access in 30,000 villages nationwide, of which Bt13 billion will be spent in the first year to install broadband access in the 24,700 villages by next June. The ICT ministry source said that due to the delay, only 2,000 to 3,000 villages will get broadband access under the project by end of this year.