Thaicom Public Company Limited, the prominent Asian satellite operator and space tech firm, has announced a fresh collaboration with Airbus. The partnership entails Airbus delivering its state-of-the-art, software-defined high throughput satellite.
Airbus OneSat
The fully reconfigurable OneSat, one of Airbus’ most advanced designs, promises to augment connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region’s Ku-band. It is anticipated to serve millions across the region. With a history of launching eight geostationary satellites, this will be Thaicom’s initial foray into flexible satellite technology, enabling them to enhance adaptability in terms of coverage, frequency, and capacity – a crucial feature for the ever-evolving Asia-Pacific region.
The upcoming satellite, destined for an orbit at 119.5° East, will not only be a game-changer for Thaicom but also present an opportunity for other partner operators. They can leverage a portion of this satellite’s payload capacity. This reduces their expenses while retaining individualized control over their distinct payload capacity and adaptability.
Ninth OneSat Order
Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Airbus Space Systems, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This significant contract with leading satellite operator Thaicom is the ninth order for our pioneering OneSat product line, which is fully reconfigurable in orbit and provides unrivaled flexibility. This collaboration with Thaicom is a first, and we look forward to further building our relationship in the future.”
Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Thaicom’s CEO, also noted the partnership’s significance. “As the world’s leading satellite technology provider, we trust that Airbus will be our best choice for building our new satellite at the strategic location of 119.5 degrees East. It will allow flexibility and instant reconfiguration to adapt dynamically to the service areas and will provide a significant confidence boost for Thaicom’s valued customers and partners throughout Asia Pacific. This is a significant milestone for Thaicom as we forge ahead to further grow our regional broadband satellite business.”
Airbus Furnishing Components for Ground Control
Besides the design and production of the satellite, Airbus will also furnish components for the ground control segment. The delivery timeline is set for 2027.
The Airbus OneSat, boasting of in-orbit reconfigurability, is adept at modifying the coverage, capacity, and frequency according to real-time requirements. Drawing from Airbus’ legacy of dependable Eurostar geostationary telecommunication satellites and its proficiency with the OneWeb constellation, OneSat stands out. Agencies ESA, the French Space Agency (CNES), and the UK Space Agency support the development of the OneSat program.