Thaicom Public Company Limited (SET: THCOM) has announced the Central Administrative Court ruling on 25 December 2025 to reaffirm that THAICOM 7 Satellite and THAICOM 8 Satellite are not satellites under the Agreement on the Operation of Domestic Communication Satellite.
With reference to the disclosure of THCOM and Gulf Development Public Company Limited (SET: GULF), formerly Intouch Holdings Public Company Limited, to the Stock Exchange of Thailand in October 2022, stating that on 6 October 2022 the Company received the arbitral award dated 29 September 2022 (the Arbitral Award) in which the Tribunal unanimously ruled that THAICOM 7 Satellite and THAICOM 8 Satellite are not satellites under the Agreement on the Operation of Domestic Communication Satellite dated 11 September 1991 (the Agreement), and dismissed the counterclaim filed by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (the Ministry) requesting the Company to comply with the Agreement.
According to the Arbitral Award, it is clear that THAICOM 7 Satellite and THAICOM 8 Satellite are not subject, nor related to the Agreement in any way, and the Company and Gulf are not obligated to comply with the Ministry’s claim in the dispute including the claim for the transfer of assets and payment of revenue share.
On 28 December 2022, the Ministry filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court seeking revocation of the Arbitral Award. The Company and Gulf then filed an objection to such a petition.
On 25 December 2025, the Central Administrative Court ruled that the Tribunal had the authority to issue the Arbitral Award, and that its recognition and enforcement do not violate public policy. The Court therefore has no authority to revoke the Arbitral Award. The Ministry’s petition is dismissed. In this regard, the Ministry has the right to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court within 30 days of the Central Administrative Court’s judgment.
