Shinsat To Launch Thaicom 5 Satellite Late May

[george]

Shinsat to launch Thaicom 5 satellite late May

BANGKOK: -- Shin Satellite Public Company Limited announced that it will launch its Thaicom 5 satellite into orbit by the end of May.

Shinsat executive Tanathit Charoenchan said Thaicom 5 will be able to provide service 15 days after the launch and the first major undertaking involves moving clients who are television broadcasters from Thaicom 3 to the new platform.

The launch of Thaicom 5 and transfer of clients from Thaicom 3 will enable the company to recoup its investment rapidly, he said.

The next major challenge involves attempting to find more customers for Thaicom 4 for which two new gateways are being planned for coverage of China, India, Australia and New Zealand. The company is speeding up to close deals with clients in Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan.

During the first quarter of 2006, Shinsat earned Bt1.9 billion in revenue, with net loss of Bt 58 million due to the depreciation of satellite assets and interest payments, something Mr Tanathit characterised as typical

of the satellite business.

Following depreciation costs, more revenues should be booked for the ensuing quarters. The company has sold 11,134 sets of terminal kits and sale for the entire 2006 is projected at up to 100,000 sets.

The company's revenue from phone service operations in Laos and Cambodia increased by 26.5 per cent with nearly 900,000 clients in the two countries. Meanwhile, revenue from internet service by Lao Telecom and Kampuchea Shinawatra increased by 42 per cent.

--TNA 2006-05-12