Report Thailand Launches First Local LEO Satellite Broadband Service

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In a significant leap forward for Thailand's telecommunications sector, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has approved National Telecom (NT) to deliver the country's inaugural local satellite broadband service using a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite. This pioneering service, facilitated through a partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb, marks a transformative step in expanding internet access across the region.

 

The service commenced this month, aiming to bridge connectivity gaps, particularly in remote areas, through the use of LEO technology. NT's president, Col Sanpachai Huvanandana, revealed that the company aspires to generate revenue of approximately THB 360 million by 2030. In addition, Eutelsat OneWeb will pay an infrastructure rental fee of THB 200 million annually to NT.

 

This rollout follows an NBTC resolution in March, granting NT permission to provide broadband services via Eutelsat OneWeb's LEO satellites for a regional market, excluding Thailand. The service is primarily managed through NT's Satellite Network Portal gateway located in Ubon Ratchathani province, which is geared to support over 50,000 users in Southeast Asia during its first operational year.

 

Eutelsat OneWeb, part of the globally established Eutelsat Group, collaborates with NT, having jointly invested more than THB 900 million in Thailand's local infrastructure. With 35 geostationary satellites and 634 LEO satellites, the Eutelsat Group is a frontrunner in global satellite communications.

As its key demographic, NT is targeting regional enterprises requiring satellite networks in isolated regions. Col Sanpachai stated, "Satellite services, including LEO broadband, will significantly boost NT's revenue in the future."

 

According to tech research firm Gartner, end-user spending on LEO satellite services is anticipated to soar to THB 531 billion globally by 2026, representing a 24.5% increase from 2025. LEO satellites traditionally offer broadband in hard-to-reach locations, but new consumer and business applications are emerging, driving expansion in the sector.

 

Khurram Shahzad, a senior director analyst at Gartner, highlighted the market's swift growth, with more than 20 active service providers and over 40,000 satellites expected shortly. "LEO satellites are poised to become a mainstream component of enterprise broadband," he noted.

 

LEO satellite services are entering a phase of rapid growth, with significant potential in providing consistent internet access and enabling IoT connectivity globally, including in aircraft, ships, and offshore platforms. Spending is expected to rise substantially in remote areas by 2026, driven by increased demand for connectivity where traditional networks falter.

 

Innovative applications, such as LEO-connected drones providing 4G/5G access during Australian natural disasters, and certain US airlines offering complimentary onboard high-speed WiFi, illustrate the expanding possibilities.

 

Despite promising growth, the LEO satellite industry faces challenges, including regulatory hurdles and capacity constraints. Shahzad pointed out the necessity for pragmatic strategy assessments by service providers, given hurdles like roaming restrictions, lack of interoperability, and certification issues across certain sectors.

 

As this innovative technology continues to evolve, both enterprises and individual users stand to benefit from enhanced connectivity, fostering economic growth and digital inclusion across regions traditionally underserved by conventional networks.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-13

 

[johng]

Back in the late 90's early 2000's  I remember receiving one way satellite traffic from a geostationary satellite..with a Nokia 9600 DVB satellite receiver flashed with Dr Overflow DVB2000 firmware https://www.no-access.de/en/

I think it was the earlier version of Oneweb  that was taken over by Eutelsat

and now transitioned from geosynchronous to LEO..much less latency with LEO.