Thai mobile broadband provider Mobile LTE has secured the nation's second satellite service provider license, positioning the company to compete against incumbent Thaicom.
Mobile LTE has received a Type Three Satellite Business License with a 15 year term valid until January 2032. The license covers the operation of satellites and satellite services.
Mobile LTE CEO Varayuth Yenbamroong said the operator plans to differentiate from Thaicom by focusing on providing services using new technologies that are distinct from those existing in the market.
“[We] want to launch a satellite onto [the] country’s unused and reservation orbital slots as soon as possible as some slots will expire very soon,” he added.
“This will help utilizing the existing resources in another way for the benefit of the country in order to promote and support the expansion of communication satellite business to ASEAN and other countries.”
He said the operator aims to use its satellite business to target people and government agencies in remote areas, in order to improve digital inclusion and further the government's Digital Thailand initiative.
But Mobile LTE noted that it will still require approval from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society before launching such services.