Somphop Purivigraipong, Commissioner of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), disclosed that on May 12, the board considered a request by Space Tech Innovation Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Thaicom Public Company Limited (SET: THCOM), which requested a postponement for the launch of a new satellite at the 78.5 degrees East orbital slot, originally due by May 15, 2026.
Currently, THAICOM 6 and THAICOM 8 satellites are providing services at this position. A source close to the situation states that NBTC’s board has voted four in favor and three abstentions to approve an extension request by Space Tech for the launch of Thaicom 9 satellite as a replacement for Thaicom 4, which has reached the end of its engineering life at the 119.5 degrees East orbital slot.
THCOM was granted usage rights for this orbital slot via the auction in January 2023. NBTC conditions require that a replacement satellite be launched within three years, by May 15, 2026, and the guarantee amount of THB 109 million remains unchanged. Additional conditions were added regarding the use of frequencies during periods when no satellite is operational in the orbital slot.
The extension request came as THCOM notified NBTC that Astranis, the manufacturer of Thaicom 9, had encountered issues with certain satellite components. Therefore, further inspections are necessary, causing the launch to be postponed until September 2027. The company planned to launch Thaicom 9 into orbit this year to maintain the orbital position and frequency usage, thereby preventing the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) from considering suspending Thailand’s frequency rights for this slot.
Additionally, NBTC’s office will urgently submit evidence of frequency suspension at the 119.5 degrees East orbital slot to the ITU by June 8, 2026, seeking an extension of the frequency suspension period to coincide with the ITU Radio Regulation Board meeting scheduled for June 29 – July 3, 2026.
