Thaicom

Thaicom Public Company Limited is a leading Asian satellite operator and provider of satellite and telecommunication services 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.

History

The company's satellite project was 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.

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. Thaicom 1 was launched on 18 December 1993, carrying 12 C-band transponders and covering an area from Japan to Singapore.

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, as well as Direct to Home (DTH) satellite TV services . As of 31 December 2011, INTOUCH, which is the Company's major shareholder, holds 41.14% of the Company's shares.

Thaicom currently operates four satellites. The company also operates satellite ground facilities, including its satellite control center in Nonthaburi, Thailand, and a teleport and DTH center in Lat Lum Gao, Thailand.

Launch history
Thaicom satellites
Satellite Manufacturer Launch Date
(UTC)		 Rocket Launch Site Contractor Longitude Status References
Thaicom 1 Hughes Space Aircraft 18 December 1993 Ariane 4 (44L) Kourou ELA-2 Arianespace 78.5° East Decommissioned
Thaicom 2 Hughes Space Aircraft 8 October 1994 Ariane 4 (44L) Kourou ELA-2 Arianespace 78.5° East Decommissioned
Thaicom 3 Aérospatiale,
now Thales Alenia Space		 16 April 1997 Ariane 4 (44LP) Kourou ELA-2 Arianespace 78.5° East Decommissioned
(Deorbited: 2 October 2006)
Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR) Space Systems/Loral, USA 11 August 2005 Ariane 5 EGS Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace 119.5° East In Service [1]
Thaicom 5 Alcatel Alenia Space, France 27 May 2006 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace 78.5° East Decommissioned [2]
Thaicom 6 Orbital Sciences Corporation 6 January 2014 Falcon 9 v1.1 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX 78.5° East In Service [3]
Thaicom 7 (AsiaSat 6) Space Systems/Loral, USA 7 September 2014 Falcon 9 v1.1 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX 120° East In Service [4]
Thaicom 8 Orbital ATK 27 May 2016 Falcon 9 FT Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX 78.5° East In Service

References
  1. "Thaicom 4". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  2. "Thaicom 5". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  3. "Thaicom 6". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  4. "Thaicom 7". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
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