Telecom watchdog to consider request for Thaicom 8 licence
THE TELECOM COMMITTEE of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is this week expected to consider the request of Thailand's sole-satellite operator, Thaicom, for a licence for its planned Thaicom 8 broadcasting satellite.
Thaicom’s proposal to the NBTC asks the watchdog to approve a new satellite to operate under the same 15-year licence of its planned Thaicom 7 broadcasting satellite. The NBTC granted a licence for Thaicom 7 last year, which is expected to be launched by the middle of next year in a 120E degree orbital slot.
According to the proposal, the new satellite will serve the rising demand for satellite broadcasting, driven by the upcoming terrestrial digital TV channel operators – especially the broadcasting of high-definition TV programmes.
Thaicom’s chief executive officer Suphajee Suthumpun declined to comment on Thaicom 8, saying that the company was in the process of carrying out a feasibility study on development of the additional satellite.
A Thaicom source said that the company is expected to launch Thaicom 8 within the next three years to cater for the projected high demand of satellite broadcasting services.
Thaicom 8 satellite would be positioned at a 78.5E degree orbital slot. Thaicom is also set to launch its Thaicom 6 satellite at a 78.5E degree orbital slot within this year – the current location of its existing Thaicom 5 satellite. This orbital location is a technically appropriate slot to provide broadcasting services to Thai broadcasters.
Thaicom 6, which cost US$163 million, will begin service in the first quarter of next year. It will be the last satellite to operate under the ICT ministry’s concession contract.
A NBTC source said the ICT Ministry had informed the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that Thailand would launch one more satellite at the 78.5E degree orbital slot. The ministry has already informed the NBTC that the ITU has been notified.
