Thailand’s digital ministry has asked telecom regulators to approve deorbiting Thaicom 4 by Nov. 8, with the existing service already moved to other satellites, the Bangkok Post reported Thursday.
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society placed the plan on the agenda of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Thailand’s telecom regulator. Commissioner AM Thanapant Raicharoen told the Bangkok Post he expected the board to approve it because Thaicom 4 had reached the end of its engineering life. Six commissioners were scheduled to attend, with NBTC Chairman Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck absent, the newspaper reported.
The transition of Thaicom 4’s current service to other satellites had been completed, an unnamed ministry source told the Bangkok Post. The source said those involved had discussed the process.
The satellite, also known as iPSTAR, received two engineering-life extensions after its original term ended in mid-2024. Gulf Space Technology (GST), formerly known as Thaicom, proposed that National Telecom (NT) extend Thaicom 4’s lifespan through the end of 2026, according to the Bangkok Post.
National Telecom President Sanpachai Huvanandana told the newspaper the extension request was linked to delays in deploying Thaicom 9. He said GST sought to maintain uninterrupted service and allow more time to move customers, particularly broadband users in India, to other satellite platforms.
Delays involving two replacement satellites led to temporary leasing of capacity on foreign satellites, the Bangkok Post reported. The NBTC board also recently approved Thaicom’s proposal to use capacity on Koreasat as replacement service for Thaicom 4.
Thaicom 4 and Thaicom 6 were operated by GST under a state concession system. GST later transferred ownership of both satellites and related equipment to the ministry, which assigned NT to operate them. NT then hired Thaicom to manage the satellites, the Bangkok Post reported.
The NBTC was scheduled to consider the deorbit proposal Thursday.
