Thaicom

Thaicom Public Company Limited is a Thai satellite operator and telecommunications-services company established in 1991. Its core business is the provision of satellite capacity and associated services for broadcasting, connectivity, telecommunications, and data communications. The company serves commercial, governmental, media, enterprise, and telecommunications customers across Thailand and other markets in Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Thaicom originated in a national communications-satellite project developed by Shinawatra Computer and Communications Company Limited, the business that later became Intouch Holdings PCL. In 1991, the company signed a contract valued at US$100 million with Hughes Space and Communications Company for the construction of Thailand’s first communications satellite. The project and its satellite were given the name Thaicom by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thaicom 1 was launched on 18 December 1993 with 12 C-band transponders. Its coverage extended from Japan to Singapore, creating an early space-based communications platform for Thailand and the wider region. The company became publicly listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 18 January 1994 under the symbol THCOM. Over time, its activities expanded beyond basic satellite capacity to include satellite television, direct-to-home television distribution, internet connectivity, telephone services, satellite-based telecommunications, and related ground infrastructure. Thaicom’s service model combines space-segment capacity with terrestrial facilities, technical operations, and customer-facing communications services. Thaicom operates a fleet of four satellites, according to the referenced company description, with coverage spanning Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Its infrastructure includes a satellite control center in Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi Province, and a teleport and direct-to-home center in Lat Lum Kaeo District, Pathum Thani Province. These facilities support satellite control, signal distribution, broadcasting, and connectivity operations. The company is a subsidiary of Intouch Holdings PCL, a major Thai telecommunications conglomerate. Intouch was identified as Thaicom’s major shareholder, holding 41.14% of the company’s shares as of 31 December 2011. Thaicom’s strategic role within the group has been linked to the development and operation of satellite infrastructure supporting broadcasting and communications services in Thailand and neighboring markets. Thaicom’s brand positioning is primarily business-to-business. Rather than functioning mainly as a consumer-facing electronics or media brand, it provides infrastructure and managed services used by broadcasters, telecommunications operators, public-sector organizations, enterprises, and other service providers. Its business scope has nevertheless had consumer-facing effects through direct-to-home television and the distribution of television programming over satellite networks. Leadership changes have included the appointment of Patompob Suwansiri as chief executive officer effective 1 January 2022. The referenced material also reports a later announcement concerning Dr. Piyawat Jriyasetapong in July 2026; because that event is future-dated relative to much of the available historical record and no additional supporting detail is provided, it is recorded separately as an unverified dated reference rather than used to characterize the company’s current management. Thaicom remains an active listed satellite-services company focused on communications infrastructure, broadcasting, and the development of new satellite capacity.

Thaicom was created in the context of Thailand’s effort to establish a national communications-satellite capability. In 1991, Shinawatra Computer and Communications Company Limited signed a US$100 million agreement with Hughes Space and Communications Company to build Thailand’s first communications satellite. The satellite project was named Thaicom by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, giving the emerging operator a national identity closely associated with Thailand’s entry into satellite communications. Thaicom 1 was launched on 18 December 1993. It carried 12 C-band transponders and provided coverage from Japan to Singapore. The launch established the technical foundation for satellite-based broadcasting and communications services connecting Thailand with other parts of Asia. It also enabled the company to develop a commercial operating model based on satellite capacity, transponder leasing, broadcasting distribution, and related communications infrastructure. Thaicom became a listed company on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 18 January 1994, trading under the symbol THCOM. Its development was closely connected with Shinawatra Computer and Communications, which later became Intouch Holdings PCL. Intouch subsequently became Thaicom’s major shareholder and was reported to hold 41.14% of the company’s shares as of 31 December 2011. Following its initial satellite deployment, Thaicom broadened its activities. Its business came to include internet and telephone services, direct-to-home satellite television, satellite broadcasting, and other telecommunications services. This expansion reflected the way satellite operators combine space infrastructure with terrestrial systems and customer services. Thaicom’s network has supported both professional users, such as broadcasters and telecommunications companies, and end users who receive television or connectivity services through downstream providers. The company’s operating infrastructure includes a satellite control center in Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi Province, and a teleport and direct-to-home center in Lat Lum Kaeo District, Pathum Thani Province. These facilities provide operational support for spacecraft, signal management, broadcasting, and satellite communications. The referenced company description states that Thaicom operates four satellites covering Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Thaicom’s history is therefore defined by the progression from a national satellite project to a listed regional communications operator. Its original role was to create Thailand’s first communications-satellite capability; its later role has been to manage satellite capacity and related services across multiple markets and applications. The company has remained part of the Intouch telecommunications group while maintaining its own public listing and the THCOM trading symbol. In the 2020s, leadership and satellite-development plans continued to shape the company. Patompob Suwansiri was announced as chief executive officer effective 1 January 2022. The supplied reference material also reports financing announced in 2025 for development of Thaicom 10 and a further chief-executive announcement concerning Dr. Piyawat Jriyasetapong in July 2026. These later items require verification against dated corporate disclosures before they can be treated as settled current history.

• 2025

  Financing reported for Thaicom 10

  [1]Thaicomen.wikipedia.org

  The supplied reference reports a US$184 million loan announced by Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered for STI’s development of Thaicom 10.

• 2022

  Patompob Suwansiri became chief executive

  [1]Thaicomen.wikipedia.org

  Thaicom announced a new chief executive officer effective 1 January 2022.

• 2011

  Intouch shareholding reported

  [1]Thaicomen.wikipedia.org

  As of 31 December 2011, Intouch Holdings was reported to hold 41.14% of Thaicom’s shares.

• 1994

  Stock Exchange of Thailand listing

  [1]Thaicomen.wikipedia.org

  Thaicom became publicly listed on 18 January under the stock symbol THCOM.

• 1993

  Thaicom 1 launched

  [1]Thaicomen.wikipedia.org

  Thaicom 1 was launched on 18 December with 12 C-band transponders and coverage extending from Japan to Singapore.

• 1991

  Satellite project established

  [1]Thaicomen.wikipedia.org

  Shinawatra Computer and Communications signed a US$100 million contract with Hughes Space and Communications to build Thailand’s first communications satellite. The project was named Thaicom by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

B2B satellite infrastructure and communications-services provider

• Satellite communications infrastructure

  Thaicom satellite fleet

  Thaicom operates a fleet of communications satellites serving customers across Asia, Oceania, and Africa. The fleet provides space-segment capacity for broadcasting, telecommunications, data communications, and connectivity services. Satellite capacity can be used by broadcasters, network operators, enterprises, and public-sector organizations that require wide-area transmission beyond the reach of conventional terrestrial infrastructure.

• Broadcasting

  Satellite broadcasting services

  Thaicom provides satellite transmission and distribution services for television and other broadcast applications. Its infrastructure supports the delivery of signals over broad geographic areas and forms part of the technical chain used by broadcasters and television platforms. The company’s broadcasting activities include direct-to-home distribution and the operation of associated ground facilities.

• Pay television and satellite TV

  Direct-to-home television services

  Thaicom’s direct-to-home activities use satellite capacity and ground infrastructure to distribute television programming directly to receiving equipment. The DTV Television Network in Thailand is identified in the reference material as a major television-broadcasting operation associated with Thaicom.

• Connectivity services

  Satellite internet and telecommunications

  The company’s expanded service portfolio includes internet, telephone, and satellite telecommunications services. These offerings use satellite connectivity to support communications in locations or applications where terrestrial networks are limited, as well as to provide additional capacity for telecommunications operators and enterprise users.

• Ground infrastructure

  Teleport and satellite ground services

  Thaicom operates ground infrastructure including a satellite control center and a teleport and direct-to-home center. Such facilities support spacecraft monitoring, signal uplink and downlink, broadcasting distribution, network operations, and the technical delivery of managed satellite services.

• 2025

  Financing for Thaicom 10 developmentProduct launch

  Background

  The supplied reference describes financing intended to support development of the Thaicom 10 satellite.

  Action taken

  Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered reportedly announced a loan to STI for the project.

  Aftermath

  No additional project timetable, ownership structure, or operational outcome was provided in the available material.

  Loan amount. US$184 million (2025)

  Source

• 1994

  Public listing on the Stock Exchange of ThailandStrategy

  Background

  Thaicom transitioned from a privately developed satellite project to a publicly traded operating company.

  Action taken

  The company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 18 January under the ticker THCOM.

  Aftermath

  The listing gave Thaicom a public-market identity and continued its development within the Intouch telecommunications group.

  Source

• 1993

  Launch of Thaicom 1Product launch

  Background

  The company required an operating satellite to provide Thailand with communications and broadcasting capacity.

  Action taken

  Thaicom 1 was launched on 18 December 1993 with 12 C-band transponders.

  Aftermath

  The satellite provided coverage from Japan to Singapore and established Thaicom as a regional satellite operator.

  Source

• 1991

  Build Thailand’s first communications satelliteStrategy

  Background

  Thailand sought to establish domestic communications-satellite capability and expand national and regional telecommunications infrastructure.

  Action taken

  Shinawatra Computer and Communications contracted Hughes Space and Communications to construct the first Thaicom satellite.

  Aftermath

  The project led to the launch of Thaicom 1 in 1993 and created the foundation for Thaicom’s satellite-operations business.

  Contract value. US$100 million (1991)

  Source

• 2026

  Thaicom announced a new chief executive[1]Thaicomen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  The referenced material reports that Thaicom announced Dr. Piyawat Jriyasetapong as a new chief executive in July 2026. Additional details about the appointment were not provided.

• 2025

  Financing announced for development of Thaicom 10[1]Thaicomen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  The referenced material reports that Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered announced a US$184 million loan to STI for development of Thaicom 10.

• 2022

  Thaicom appointed Patompob Suwansiri as chief executive officer[1]Thaicomen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Thaicom announced that Patompob Suwansiri would become its chief executive officer on 1 January 2022.

1. 1Thaicomen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Thaicom official websitethaicom.net