Thaicom

Thaicom is the name of a series of communications satellites operated from Thailand, and also the name of 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 region. The satellite projects were named Thaicom by the King of Thailand, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as a symbol of the linkage between Thailand and modern communications technology.

History

Bangkok, Thailand-based Shinawatra Computer and Communications Co. Ltd. (now INTOUCH HOLDINGS PLC) signed a US$100 million contract with Hughes Space and Communications Company Ltd. in 1991 to build Thailand's first communications satellite. This first Thaicom satellite, Thaicom-1, was launched on 18 December 1993, and 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 8 satellites, Thaicom-1, Thaicom-2 and Thaicom-3 have all been de-orbited, whereas Thaicom-4 (more commonly known as iPSTAR), Thaicom-5, Thaicom-6, Thaicom-7, and THAICOM 8, recently launched by SpaceX, is in a supersynchronous orbit are in service. The company has also built satellite ground facilities, including its main satellite control facility in Nonthaburi, Thailand, and a teleport and DTH center in Lat Lum Gao, Thailand, which has been ISO9001:2000 certified since 2002.

Launch history

This is a list of Thaicom satellites.

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 78.5° East Decommissioned
Thaicom 2 Hughes Space Aircraft 8 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 78.5° East 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 120° 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 6 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 (AsiaSat 6) Space Systems/Loral, USA 7 September 2014 United States Falcon 9 v1.1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States SpaceX 120° East In Service [4]
Thaicom 8 Orbital ATK 27 May 2016 United States Falcon 9 FT United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States SpaceX 78.5° East In Service

References

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