Gold rush eyed for LEO satellite services

Thaicom and NT expect to leverage their partnerships for revenue, writes Komsan Tortermvasana

- Komsan Tortermvasana

Satellite operator Thaicom and state agency National Telecom (NT) plan to utilise their global partners’ low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to become substantial sources of revenue.

Thaicom launched the Thaicom-Globalstar satellite gateway in Thailand in 2023 to provide LEO satellite services and solutions.

This development represented the country’s first adoption of LEO satellites to provide various solutions in Thailand and the region, such as security and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions that benefit several industries, including tourism, maritime, nature conservation and national defence.

Globalstar is a global LEO satellite operator and a leading provider of satellite IoT solutions and mobile satellite services.

Patompob Suwansiri, chief executive of Thaicom, said the company is the exclusive distributor of Globalstar’s services in Thailand.

“The deal with Globalstar forms part of our business development roadmap as the LEO satellite business is one aspect of Thaicom’s business diversification,” he said.

The LEO satellite service also complements Thaicom’s existing satellite portfolio, said Mr Patompob.

LEO satellite-based IoT solutions enable businesses to streamline operations, providing safety and communication, and enable assets to be monitored remotely via Thaicom’s satellite network.

More than 20 vessels in the maritime sector are using digital solutions provided by Thaicom through the Globalstar LEO satellite partnership, he said.

EXPANSION OF OPPORTUNITIES

Globalstar is expanding its partnership with Thaicom by deploying more than 40 SmartOne Solar satellite IoT transmitters to enhance its capability for real-time vessel tracking for merchant and offshore ships at sea.

Mr Patompob said the move benefits Thaicom as the exclusive partnership will be able to offer services with greater capabilities in the future.