File photo for reference only

 

Thailand is gearing up to join the satellite-to-phone revolution, with services expected to be available by the end of 2026. This advancement stems from a partnership between satellite operator Thaicom and Globalstar, a leader in low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services.

 

Thaicom's chief executive, Patompob Suwansiri, announced that the company is expanding its ground facility in Pathum Thani province to support Globalstar’s enhanced satellite capacity. This infrastructure upgrade aims to allow Thai iPhone users to utilise satellite connectivity on their devices by late 2026.

 

Currently, this satellite-to-phone service is operational in around 20 countries, but Thailand has not yet been included. The technology enables mobile devices to communicate via orbiting satellites, even when they’re outside traditional cellular or WiFi networks. Experts herald it as a potential game-changer in global telecommunications.

 

In 2022, Globalstar teamed up with Apple to allow the iPhone 14 to send emergency messages in areas without cellular networks. This service later expanded to other iPhone models and certain Android devices.

 

Despite the technological promise, Mr Suwansiri noted that predicting the most successful business model for satellite-to-phone services remains challenging. Thaicom is closely monitoring developments, seeing a potential opportunity for growth in the regional market.

 

The collaboration between Thaicom and Globalstar began two years ago, positioning Thaicom as Thailand’s pioneer in LEO satellite services. These services extend beyond telecommunications, encompassing sectors like tourism, maritime, security, Internet of Things solutions, and nature conservation.

 

As Thailand prepares for this innovative service, the country could soon see new possibilities in mobile connectivity, vastly improving communication capabilities, especially in remote areas. The move marks a significant step forward, aligning Thailand with global technological advancements.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-27

 

But no agreement yet with Starlink.....

But satellite phones require a licence in Thailand. If iPhones are enabled in Thailand will Thailand change its laws? 

9 hours ago, Gaccha said:

But satellite phones require a licence in Thailand. If iPhones are enabled in Thailand will Thailand change its laws? 

Eventually

@simon43 Can you reliably use one of these phones indoors or in a car?

Finally those living in Isaan can use a phone...

The number of places where you can claim to have "no signal" decreases every day. 😢😢😢

15 hours ago, simon43 said:

But no agreement yet with Starlink.....

Which I used on my last 2 cruises and it worked fantastic with no problems what so ever, maybe too many envelopes needed to get into Thailand

The question not answered is what carrier is going to have access and what are they going to fleece the public for ability to use it.  

 

I can't see AIS or TRUE letting someone else into the game and cutting them out.

I can call anybody from the USA with Whatsapp.

They can call me as well. Video calls. For free. What's next? Teleportation?

What is new here?

Reminds me of my mother. That INNER Net is Evil! I guess that's the crowd they are after = people that have no clue.

(Sidenote - been reading a LOT of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lately, & he spelled clue, CLEW) 1890's LIMEY! GREAT stories!! 

Sherlock Holmes rocks! Sorry to get off topic. @The Moderating Team is there a book club/section here?

6 minutes ago, jaywalker-2 said:

I can call anybody from the USA with Whatsapp.

They can call me as well. Video calls. For free.

 

Not when/where there's no signal, you can't.

 

I struggle to see how they're going to manage to charge for this as an additional service, though. Anybody who grew up through the 90s will have witnessed people being interviewed remotely on the TV using satellite transmissions being used for the link between the studio and interviewee's location. The latency was appalling. Unless they've somehow managed to fix that, then I can't see anybody being willing to pay for such a service.

low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite

 Just spotted the satellite going by !

21 minutes ago, JayClay said:

 

Not when/where there's no signal, you can't.

 

I struggle to see how they're going to manage to charge for this as an additional service, though. Anybody who grew up through the 90s will have witnessed people being interviewed remotely on the TV using satellite transmissions being used for the link between the studio and interviewee's location. The latency was appalling. Unless they've somehow managed to fix that, then I can't see anybody being willing to pay for such a service.

Buddy there was ZERO signal for ANYTHING in in Prasat 20 years ago. They had to pipe in sunshine. Just joking. My daughter was able to check in on Grandpa ther a few weeks ago.

The Army had moved him to Surin City....he lives right on the border, but that's another story. 

Main jist is they have mobile phones & Whatsapp works between Florida and Surin.

Sidenote: My daughter HATES the Cambodians because they said they invented som tam.

Ding-bat.....just like her Mommy. They'll come up for some crazy reasons for war.

I'm retired Army. 4 combat zones. I HATE war!

I'm no SF Rambo guy, just did some time in GREEN. Went to contracting with the US Army. Spent a lot of time in Asia.

War SUCKS. I HATE WAR!

 

This is me ----Just a humble guy....a Florida Man.

I have done 99% of what is in this video.

 

Satellites are about as real as Stanley Kubricks moon landings.

might come in handy in Nepal trekking. 

55 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite

 Just spotted the satellite going by !

More chance of me getting that than a iPhone 14

🤣🚀😳

1 hour ago, JayClay said:

The latency was appalling.

Using geo-stationery satellites which was most common will give you a half-second lag each way as your signal travels 40,000 km there and back. These are in LEO (Low-Earth Orbit not the beer ha ha) so response is milliseconds or less

Judging from the OP image, iPhone users will need to buy the Apple Astronomical Telescope attachment in order to track their satellite. 😀

Off topic post removed. @jaywalker-2

 

 

21 hours ago, simon43 said:

But no agreement yet with Starlink.....

 

Starlink is just too powerful.

 

More importantly, Elon is a loose cannon.

Nobody, not even Trump, controls Elon.

 

This is why I (we) love him so....

 

7 hours ago, blackcab said:

@simon43 Can you reliably use one of these phones indoors or in a car?

No... Globalstar operates on L-band, about 1.6 GHz.  The satellites are about 1,400 km above the Earth (Starlink is about 450 km).  Globalstar does put out a strong signal, but your mobile phone does not!  I'd hazard that getting a reliable connection in a car/room with the dinky antenna on your mobile phone is unlikely 🙂

 

To give you an idea, I can receive the Globalstar satellite signal strongly using a 12-element, external Yagi antenna pointing straight at the satellite!  Sticking a 12-element yagi antenna onto your mobile phone means that you can't easily put it in your pocket lol....

5 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Satellites are about as real as Stanley Kubricks moon landings.

Bugger!  why did I waste 15 years of my career designing and building them?....

7 hours ago, Cameroni said:

Finally those living in Isaan can use a phone...

That's a relief. Our home is in Isaan, although we'll be living in Chanthaburi for a while due to my wife's work. I constantly wake up in a sweat worrying about all the phones I see in Isaan and no way to use them.  Apart from endless photos of people's faces, their food ect

17 hours ago, nglodnig said:

Using geo-stationery satellites which was most common will give you a half-second lag each way as your signal travels 40,000 km there and back. These are in LEO (Low-Earth Orbit not the beer ha ha) so response is milliseconds or less

 

Okay if that's the case then maybe they can find a way to charge for it.

13 hours ago, kimamey said:

That's a relief. Our home is in Isaan, although we'll be living in Chanthaburi for a while due to my wife's work. I constantly wake up in a sweat worrying about all the phones I see in Isaan and no way to use them.  Apart from endless photos of people's faces, their food ect

Lol, I remember having to climb onto the tin roof of my Thai GF's house in Isaan in order to check my email with my mobile phone......

No point in giving this Star Trek technology to the public,  if the call/message sending rates are a total cheating ripoff. 

20 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Judging from the OP image, iPhone users will need to buy the Apple Astronomical Telescope attachment in order to track their satellite. 😀

 

Going to be interesting when Elon steps in with use anything.  I think it is a great thing for people that donot have access but I have an issue with it being part of the APPLE MONOPOLY 

Hello everyone,

I'm an American preparing for possible retirement in Thailand, and I’ve got a couple of questions for those of you who’ve already made the move.

1. How do you handle your home country’s banks when it comes to new debit or credit cards?
For example, if your U.S. bank issues a replacement card and needs to verify your identity, how do you deal with that when you’re overseas?

2. What do you do about security texts and verification calls, especially if you're no longer using your home country’s phone number?
I’m concerned that if I switch to a Thai SIM card, my U.S. bank might not recognize the new number and could end up locking my card or account.

Are there any good solutions out there—like apps or services—that help manage this? Do eSIMs work better in this situation? I’d really appreciate any tips or setups that have worked for you.

Thanks in advance! 🙏

On 8/28/2025 at 3:54 PM, simon43 said:

No... Globalstar operates on L-band, about 1.6 GHz.  The satellites are about 1,400 km above the Earth (Starlink is about 450 km).  Globalstar does put out a strong signal, but your mobile phone does not!  I'd hazard that getting a reliable connection in a car/room with the dinky antenna on your mobile phone is unlikely 🙂

 

To give you an idea, I can receive the Globalstar satellite signal strongly using a 12-element, external Yagi antenna pointing straight at the satellite!  Sticking a 12-element yagi antenna onto your mobile phone means that you can't easily put it in your pocket lol....

One way to use the satellites could be to have receivers /relayers (whatever they're called) in communities without mobile coverage, creating a local cell ?

I'm pretty sure that's what they do in remote communities in the Scottish Highlands. No need to change phones. 

On 8/27/2025 at 4:36 PM, snoop1130 said:

Experts herald it as a potential game-changer in global telecommunications.

Don't really need to be an expert to realise that... even my missus gets it.