CAT makes deep cuts in overseas call rates

PHUKET: The Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) has reduced the rates for overseas calls to 44 countries by as much as 35% (see table above). Voravit Vorapiboonpong, chief of the Phuket Telecommunications Center, told the Gazette that the rate reductions were introduced because the CAT wants to encourage more people to make overseas phone calls. The reductions will apply to direct-dialed calls and to calls made using “Thaicard” international phone cards. Card users will also now get the Economy and Reduced rates, said Teerapong Sootthinont, director of the CAT. “Users of Thaicard used to pay the standard rate, whatever the time of day. But now they will pay 20% to 40% less,” he said.