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. Former Thai prime minister 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, 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 has launched 8 satellites. THAICOM 1, THAICOM 2 and THAICOM 3 have been de-orbited. THAICOM 4 (more commonly known as IPSTAR), THAICOM 5, THAICOM 6, THAICOM 7 and THAICOM 8 are in service. 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, which has been ISO9001:2000 certified since 2002.
Launch history
This is a list of 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 | In Service | [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
- ^ "Thaicom 4". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Thaicom 5". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Thaicom 6". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Thaicom 7". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
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