TOT Public Company Limited has approached five private major telecom operators about becoming a partner of any of its six core businesses in an effort to stay alive in the industry, The Nation reports. The state enterprise sent letters this week to Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (SET:ADVANC), Total Access Communication Public Company Limited (SET:DTAC), Loxley Public Company Limited (SET:LOXLEY), Samart Corporation Public Company Limited (SET:SAMART) and Samart Corporation Public Company Limited (SET:SAMART). Sigve Brekke, interim Chief Executive Officer of Total Access Communication, said on October 30, 2014 that the company had already received the letter and is evaluating the proposal.

A TOT source said TOT has already appointed committees to talk with these five companies on a possible partnership. TOT is open to any joint venture model. It wants to finalize relationships this year.

The TOT source said TOT would also ask the government to help clear legal obstacles to ensure the smooth formation of the partnerships, which might have to be proceeded under the public-private joint venture law.