TOT Public Company Limited reportedly in talks to seeks partners. Five telecommunication companies have already submitted proposals to become the state agency's business partners including Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (SET:ADVANC), True Corporation Public Company Limited (SET:TRUE), Total Access Communication Public Company Limited (SET:DTAC), Loxley Public Company Limited (SET:LOXLEY), Samart Corporation Public Company Limited (SET:SAMART) and Mobile LTE. The TOT board recently approved the hiring of a consultant to help it select possible strategic partners, The Nation reports.

A TOT source said “the consultant would help the agency evaluate its proposals. Financial aspects will be taken into account, of the potential partners and TOT itself, as well as legal aspects.” The consultant is expected to take four months to complete the study. The TOT board recently disclosed that SoftBank Corp.

(TSE:9984) from Japan had also shown an interest in becoming a strategic partner, but it declined to elaborate.