Thaicom

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Thaicom is the name of a series of communications satellites operated out of Thailand and the name Thaicom Public Company Limited, which is the company that owns and operates the Thaicom satellite fleet and other telecommunication businesses in Thailand and throughout the Asia-Pacific.

The official name of satellite project known as THAICOM named by His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as a symbol of the linkage between Thailand and modern communications technology.

History

Thailand-based Shinawatra Computer and Communications Co. Ltd. (now Shin Corporation) signed a US$ 100 million contract with Hughes Space and Communications Company Ltd. in 1991 to launch Thailand's first satellite communications project. The first Thaicom satellite was launched on December 17, 1993. This satellite carried 12 C-band transponders covering a region from Japan to Singapore. Thaksin Shinawatra sold Shin Corporation, which owns 41% of Thaicom Public Company Limited.

The Company became a listed company on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 18 January 1994, and is officially traded under the symbol THCOM.

Since its establishment, the Company has expanded its business activities to include Internet and telephone services, and DTV satellite television dish sales. As of 31 December 2011, INTOUCH, which is the Company's major shareholder, holds 41.14% of the Company’s shares.

Thaicom has launched 6 satellites, Thaicom 1, 2 and 3 are all de-orbited whereas Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR), Thaicom 5 and Thaicom 6 are in service. The company has also built high-quality satellite service facilities besides its main earth control station. This teleport and DTH center has been ISO9001:2000 certified since 2002.

Launch history

This is a list of Thaicom satellites (Both launched & planned).

Thaicom satellites
Satellite Manufacturer Launch Date
(UTC)		 Rocket Launch Site Contractor Longitude Status References
Thaicom 1 Hughes Space Aircraft 18 December 1993 European Union Ariane 4 (44L) France Kourou ELA-2 France Arianespace 120° East Decommissioned
Thaicom 2 08 October 1994 European Union Ariane 4 (44L) France Kourou ELA-2 France Arianespace 78.5° East Decommissioned
Thaicom 3 Aérospatiale,
now Thales Alenia Space		 16 April 1997 European Union Ariane 4 (44LP) France Kourou ELA-2 France Arianespace Decommissioned
(Deorbited: 02 October 2006)
Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR) Space Systems/Loral, USA 11 August 2005 European Union Ariane 5 EGS France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace 119.5° East In Service [1]
Thaicom 5 Alcatel Alenia Space, France 27 May 2006 European Union Ariane 5 ECA France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace 78.5° East In Service [2]
Thaicom 6 Orbital Sciences Corporation 06 January 2014 United States Falcon 9 v1.1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States SpaceX 78.5° East In Service [3]
Thaicom 7 Space Systems/Loral, USA 2014 (Estimated) United States Falcon 9 v1.1 120° East Planned [4]

Thaicom satellites

Thaicom 3

It was launched in 1997, and became a key for the company in providing international communications services from central Europe and Africa to eastern Asia and Australia. It had 25 C-band transformers out of which 18 connect to Asian regional beam that covered India, southern China, and Southeast Asia. Thaicom 3's fourteen Ku band transponders are divided between Thailand and India. Thaicom 3 is now deorbited.

References

  1. ↑ "Thaicom 4". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Retrieved 07 January 2014. 
  2. ↑ "Thaicom 5". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Retrieved 07 January 2014. 
  3. ↑ "Thaicom 6". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Retrieved 07 January 2014. 
  4. ↑ "Thaicom 7". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Retrieved 07 January 2014. 

External links

Thaicom satellites
See also: Thaicom (company) · Payloads not yet launched are listed in italics
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