Asian satellite and space technology company Thaicom has announced a partnership agreement between its subsidiary, Space Tech Innovation Limited (STI), and Eutelsat Asia, a subsidiary of satellite operator Eutelsat. This partnership is focused on launching a new satellite in the orbital slot of 119.5 degrees east.
Under the agreement, Eutelsat will lease and operate 50% of the satellite's capacity for its 16-year lifespan. Thaicom is currently finalizing the satellite procurement process, and the launch date has not been announced yet.
Thaicom describes its satellite as part of a new generation of broadband software-defined high-throughput satellites (HTS). This means that the satellite will offer flexibility and instant reconfiguration to adapt to different service areas. This feature will provide confidence to Thaicom's customers and partners in the Asia-Pacific region.
Moreover, Thaicom's CEO, Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, stated that this partnership is strategic for their new satellite project. It not only ensures the long-term and secure utilization of 50% of the satellite but also creates synergies between the two organizations to seize future growth opportunities.