Thaicom is a leading Asian satellite operator and provider of satellite communications since 1991. The company has nearly 30 years of experience in satellite communications and operates a fleet of currently four satellites covering Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Thaicom is a subsidiary of Intouch Holdings Public Company Limited, Thailand's biggest telecommunications conglomerate.
Company milestones
11 September 1991 - Shinawatra Satellite Co., Ltd. was granted a 30-year concession by Ministry of Transport and Communications to operate Thailand's first commercial satellite.
7 November 1991 – Shinawatra Satellite Co., Ltd. was established
2 August 1999 - Shinawatra Satellite changed its name to Shin Satellite Plc
27 September 1999 - Shin Satellite Plc. increased its registered capital from Baht 3,500 million to Baht 5,500 million and paid-up capital from Baht 3,500 million to Baht 4,375 million and also Shin Corporation sold 100% of its investment in Shenington Investments Pte Ltd. to Shin Satellite Plc. in order to restructure the SHIN Group.
11 August 2005 - Thaicom 4 was successfully launched into orbit, delayed for two hours from its scheduled time due to a technical problem in the final 15 seconds of the initial attempt
"Thaicom" is the name that his majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave to the Thai satellite program. Thaicom stands for "Thai Communications".
Details of satellites
Thaicom 1 (Thaicom 1A)
Thaicom 1, the first satellite of Thailand, was launched on 17 December 1993. Built by Hughes Aircraft Company, it was located at 78.5 degrees East. The life expectancy was 15 years. Thaicom 1 was relocated in May–June 1997 to orbital position 120 degrees East, and was renamed Thaicom 1A.
Thaicom 2
Thaicom 2, the second satellite of Thailand, was launched on 7 October 1994. The satellite was identical to Thaicom 1, and was located at 78.5 degrees East.
Thaicom 3
Launched on 16 April 1997, Thaicom 3 was a three-axis stabilized spacecraft with a payload capacity of 25 C band and 14 Ku band transponders. It was built by Aérospatiale, now Thales Alenia Space. The global beam coverage on Thaicom 3 spanned over Asia, Europe, Australia and Africa. The satellite's Ku-band transponders, with both spot and steerable beams, provided digital Direct-to-Home services in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia. On 2 October 2006, at approximately 1:37 am, Thaicom 3 was de-orbited due to power system failure. Customers on Thaicom 3 were migrated to Thaicom 4 and Thaicom 5 prior to the de-orbit.
Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR 1)
is the fourth satellite to be put into service by Thaicom at 119.5 degrees East. It was the world's first satellite specifically designed to provide Internet services. Built by Space Systems/Loral and launched on 11 August 2005 from French Guiana, IPSTAR 1 has a life expectancy of 15 years.
Thaicom 5
is a Spacebus 3000A model built by Alcatel Alenia Space of France, with a footprint covering four continents. The 2.8-tonne Thaicom 5, worth US$100 million, replaced Thaicom 3, which was near the end of its service life at the time of Thaicom 5's launch on 27 May 2006. Thaicom 5 is used for broadcasting, especially DTH and high definition TV, and other telecommunications services. On 17 December 2019, Thaicom 5 experienced a technical issue, resulting in limitations to monitoring the status of the satellite. Thaicom 5 satellite service ended on 24 February 2020. Deorbiting of the satellite was completed on 26 February 2020, at 4:52 PM.
Thaicom 6
was launched on 6 January 2014. Thaicom 6 is used for broadcasting, especially DTH and high definition TV, and other telecommunications services. It is located at 78.5 degrees East.
Thaicom 7 (AsiaSat 6)
was launched on 7 September 2014. It was developed in cooperation between satellite operators AsiaSat and Thaicom. The satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral, and is based on the LS-1300LL satellite bus. The satellite carries 28 C band transponders and is positioned at a longitude of 120 degrees East.
Thaicom 8
was manufactured by Orbital ATK and launched on 27 May 2016. The 3,100-kilogram satellite serves Thailand, India and Africa from the 78.5 degrees East geostationary location. It is equipped with 24 active Ku-band transponders.
Subsidiaries
Thai Advanced Innovation
Thai Advanced Innovation , formerly known as DTV Service, provides digital platform services and television networks on an end-to-end basis, as well as integrated digital solutions and services to the private and government sectors in Thailand.
Lao Telecommunications Public Company Limited is a joint venture between Shenington and the government of Laos, where Shenington currently holds 49% of the company. LTC has a license to operate telecommunications services in Laos.
Shenington Investments Pte. Ltd.
Shenington Investments Pte Ltd. was incorporated in Singapore to conduct local and overseas telecom investment. Thaicom acquired Shenington in September 1999 and currently holds 51% stake in the company.
