Report on readiness to tackle the year AD 2000 (Y2K) problem Introduction Advanced Info Service Plc. operates its core business providing mobile phone service, Cellular 900 and Digital GSM, which has been granted concessions from the Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT). Its headquarters situated at No. 1291/1 Shinawatra building 2, Phaholyothin Road, Sam Sen Nai sub-district, Phayathai district, Bangkok 10400, Telephone # 299-6194, Fax # 299-6211, it would like to report on readiness to support the Y2K problem No. 2000 No. 2/2541with the data ended on the 31st August, 1998. Preparation for readiness on the Y2K problem 1. Analysis and assessment of the impact The work system that faces the direct impact from the Y2K problem in providing mobile telephone service: 1.1 Computer work system 1.1.1 Customer administration & billing computer system is the operating system for mobile telephone in countrywide serving of 1,000,000 numbers for the Cellular 900 and Digital GSM, and 300,000 numbers for pagers. It uses in registration, issuing credit notes, receiving payment from ADVANCE offices and franchisers around country, changing registration, billing collection, asking for information, suspending telephone use temporarily. 1.1.2 Back-office system is for controlling goods, warehousing, selling goods to distribution channels, cost accounting, accounting and personnel administration. 1.1.3 Service center system is information system for repairing mobile telephone. 1.1.4 Call center is the system for providing service to inquiry on mobile telephone, information on use of the customer, information on the exchange breakdown, sales promotion information. 1.1.5 Automatic office system, office automation making contacting and commanding around the country quickly. 1.1.6 Data warehousing is the storing and analyzing information for marketing. 1.1.7 Fraud management is the system preventing stolen uses of mobile telephone. 1.1.8 SIS is the system used to prevent unauthorized use of mobile telephone by tuning to other peoples numbers. 1.2 Telephone exchange system consisting of 1.2.1 System Cellular 900 29 exchanges 1.273 Base stations 1.2.2 System Digital GSM 13 exchanges 1,227 Base stations 1.2.3 System Paging 1.3 Office system 1.3.1 Systems for lift, alarm system, PC, printer, fax, phone equipment, Access Control System. 2. Impact on the Y2K problem toward business operation 2.1 Possible impact on computer system and internal management system 2.1.1 For mobile telephone service charge 2.1.1.1 Telephone exchange and billing system if the user uses mobile telephone between 23.50 hours on the 31st December, 1999, and hang up at 00.05 hours on the 1st January, 2000. The actual use is 15 minutes. However if the billing system is not correct, it will think that the user hung up at 00.05 hours on the 1st January, 1900, causing a mistake in computation of the service charge. 2.1.1.2 On the 29th February, 1900 had no 29th February, 2000. So, if the exchange cannot support the recording, the data will have discrepancy in computing the amount. 2.1.1.3 In case of promotion package on the 1st January, 1900 that is on Monday but the 1st January, 200 is Saturday. If the promotion package or tariff package has differences between the office days and Saturday and Sunday, there will be miscalculation taken place. 2.1.2 In case of pager service charge There can be a mistake in the billing system. 2.1.3 In case of mobile telephone and pager Due to computation of expenses incurs at the telephone exchange, on billing, on warranty, life of the devices, the numbers on the mobile phone and pager have no impact on the service charge, so the devices can continue to work afterward. 2.2 Possible impact that may occur to the general business Computation on users data may be mistaken, e.g. number of years using the service, tax information, sales promotion data and credit note data may cause dissatisfaction to the service user and that invites him to file a lawsuit. 2.3 Possible impact results from external factors There may be some mistakes if the contacted agencies are not prepared to tackle the Y2K problem on these systems. 2.3.1 The system that connects to the bank and money transfer between the company and the service user. 2.3.2 The network of the Telephone Organization of Thailand in case of sending signal through the network of other. 2.3.3 The network of the Communications Authority of Thailand in case that the mobile telephone user calls overseas. 2.3.4 Other operators that ADVANCE and Pager make joint international roaming. 3. Plan for solving the problem 3.1 Guidelines and methods for solving the problem 3.1.1 All the main computer systems are developed to tackle the Y2K (Year 2000 compliant) since 1996 and started to work from 1997 onward. 3.1.1.1 The CUBICS system is used to replace the customer administration & billing computer. 3.1.1.2 The SAP/R3 is used to replace the back-office system. 3.1.1.3 Using the service center system. 3.1.1.4 Using the call center system. 3.1.1.5 Using the Intranet to replace the office automation. 3.1.1.6 Using the data warehousing, fraud management and SIS as new systems. 3.1.2 The telephone exchange system has planned and coordinated with the manufacturers, Ericsson, Nokia and Siemens to upgrade and test the software and expected to be completed by 1998. 3.1.3 The office work system has surveyed all equipment and invested on every system from 1996 to 1997. 3.2 Phases in solving the problem are 3.2.1 Preliminary phase is appointment of the working committee to tackle the Y2K problem consisting of representatives from every unit totaling 30 persons. 3.2.2 Inventory analysis phase is collection of all items involving the Y2K problem. 3.2.3 Impact analysis phase is study of impact on the Y2K problem upon all equipment. 3.2.4 Correction phase. 3.2.5 Testing phase. 3.2.6 Implementation phase. The timetable for each phase is as follows: Year 2000 Project Implementation Wireless Communications Shinawatra Group ACTION PLAN 1998 1999 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 1) Preliminary Phase X Year 2000 Education and X P.R. (Incorporate with X SC&C and CA) X Set up Year 2000 Wireless X Committee X 2) Inventory Analysis Phase X Inventory of All Computer X and None Computer EquipmentX 3) Impact Analysis Phase X X Identification of Impact X Computer and None Computer X Equipment X Identification of Impact X Program and Data X Software and Hardware Upgrade X Strategy X File/Database Conversion X Strategy X 4) Correction Phase X Hardware and Firmware Upgrade/ X Replacement X Software and Operating System Upgrade X Program and Data Conversion X File / Database Conversion X Bridging All X 5) Testing Phase X Unit Testing X System and Acceptance Testining X 6) Final Implementation Phase X Implementation of production X system changes X Migration to production X 3.3 Group of persons of agencies responsible for solving the problem Department Name Position Head of Committee Arpattra Srinkkarrinkul Vice President-Operation Service Operation Support Busaya Sathirapipatkul Wireless Application Manager Isara Dachakaisaya Wireless System Management Peerapan Panitchphathom Billing Management Manager Niwat Chotwongvoranant Collection & Credit Control Manager Jirapong Palanusorn Operation Service Manager Wallop Thamronglak Administration Support Officer Suphat Tuntiphut New Product Development Manager Engineering Chatchai Saksoonthornsiri Eastern Region Engineering Manager Nuwat Prasitvoranant Western Region Engineering Manager Boonchai Nirathisai Network Information System Manager Wannee Sriviset Software Development Manager Nontharat Thongpompluksa Value Added Service Manager Prawat Nikanjanakool Act. AVP-Site & Acquisition Maintenance To-Un Napaporn GSM Services Manager Shinawatra Wireless Nirat Kanjananakphan Terminal Product Management Manager Marketing Chawal Ngamwongsakollert Accounting Manager Namfon Nutma Sales Officer Aroonporn Limsakul Marketing Information Manager Rawat Manyam Marketing Officer Thawatchai kajornkittisak General Administration Manager Wireless Controller Jaranya Tungbanjerdsuk Human Resource Manager Sansanee Kumpalanuwat Accounting Manager Pensri Ayutaka Administration Manager Sunitaya Shinawatra Finance Manager Poonpol Ngendee Legal Manager Somchai Cherdchupanyachon Accounting Specialist Peeraya Sangsingkaew Accounting Specialist Walaiporn kajeenikorn Logistics & Procurement Manager Shinawatra Paging Thakolrat Kaewkan Operation Director Weerasak Rumaneeratanakul MIS Division Manager 3.4 Expected expenditure Due to the main system investment was completed in 1997 but there are parts that need to be improved are PC and office equipment which have to be upgraded or replaced, which will cost a total of 50 million baht. 4. Analysis and explanation of the management The main system of ADVANCE was modified and completed since 1997. The systems in use at present are registration system, debit note issuance, payment acceptance, and accounting systems. These systems have been newly developed for flexibility in providing service to the mobile telephone and can support the Y2K problem. The telephone exchange system has been given a guarantee letter from every manufacturer that it can support the Y2K problem. For the parts to be improved are adjustment and application of the PCs, which expected to be completed by December 1998. The Company is confident that all of its systems can support the Y2K problem. 5. Report on preparation for readiness to support the Y2K problem Introduction Shinawatra Paging Co Ltd., concessionnaire of the business on distribution and service of pager under the name of PHONELINK, having the headquarters at Shinawatra building, Tower 2, No. 1291/1 Phaholyothin Road, Sam Sen Nai sub-district, Phayathai district, Bangkok Metropolis 10400, Telephone # 299-6444, Fax # 299-6446, would like to report on preparation for readiness to support the Y2K problem No. 1/2541, which the information ended on the 31st August 1998. 5.1 Impact analysis and assessment The analysis can be divided into work system and its details for the hardware and software that may have impact from the year AD 2000 are as follows: 5.1.1 Computer system 5.1.1.1 Paging system which include the computer both Hardware and software used to send messages to the pager including the pager itself. 5.1.1.2 Business Application System (BAS) is a system that provide service on registration, debit note issuance, receiving service payment, bill collection, information service, after sales service, inventory control, roaming service and summary of accounting report. 5.1.1.3 Supplementary service systems such as MoneyLink, StockALERT, Web Paging, Voice Mail, Automatic Billing Inquiry, Roaming Service, Reach Me Service. 5.1.2 Telephone exchange cabinet system 5.1.2.1 Telephone exchange cabinet system 151,152 and 153 5.1.2.2 Telephone exchange cabinet system for telephone lines pro vincial center 5.1.3 Office system Personal Computer and printer Analysis will be based on the results of test of each system and its improvement if a problem found. 5.2 Impact on the Y2K problem to business operation 5.2.1 Possible impact on computer system and telephone exchange cabinet system 5.2.1.1 Service center system in which the customer brings in the equipment for service, if it takes a long time, the system will close the service temporarily. So, no service charge will be made during the repair. It will set up an expiry date as 99 due to the uncertain timetable. When comes 1999 the system will open up for service automatically. 5.2.1.2 Computation of prorate for the service charge that is not a full month will be calculated by finding the balance of the month. If the system cannot support the Y2K problem, it will miscount the date in February 2000 which has 29 days to February 1900 that had 28 days. 5.2.1.3 Setting up scheduled page will not work. 5.2.1.4 Setting up weekends/weekdays of the StockALERT system will be faulty. 5.2.1.5 Some telephone exchange will not work as usual when it be comes the year 2000. (More)