Thaicom Public Company Limited, a prominent Asian satellite operator and space technology company, has chosen Airbus to develop its next-generation software-defined high throughput satellite. The satellite, known as OneSat, will offer extended connectivity in the Ku-band across the Asia-Pacific region, serving millions of users. Thaicom, which has previously launched and operated eight geostationary satellites, sees this as a crucial step in providing more adaptability in coverage, frequency, and capacity in a dynamic region.
Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Airbus Space Systems, expressed his excitement about the collaboration with Thaicom, stating that this contract marks the ninth order for Airbus’ innovative OneSat product line. The OneSat is fully reconfigurable in orbit, providing unparalleled flexibility. Nasr also mentioned that this partnership with Thaicom is just the beginning, and they look forward to further strengthening their relationship in the future.
Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Thaicom’s CEO, expressed his delight in selecting Airbus as the satellite technology provider for their new generation of software-defined high throughput satellite. Suwansiri emphasized that Airbus’ expertise makes them the best choice for building the satellite at the strategic location of 119.5 degrees East. This location will allow for flexibility and instant reconfiguration to dynamically adapt to service areas, providing confidence to Thaicom’s customers and partners throughout the Asia Pacific region. Suwansiri sees this as a significant milestone for Thaicom as they continue to expand their broadband satellite business.
The state-of-the-art satellite will be positioned in orbit at 119.5° East and will enable Thaicom to offer other partner operators a share of its payload capacity, reducing their costs while maintaining separate control of their individual payload capacity and flexibility. Airbus will be responsible for designing and manufacturing the satellite, as well as providing ground control segment components. The delivery of the satellite is scheduled for 2027.
The Airbus OneSat is capable of full reconfiguration in orbit, allowing for adjustments in coverage area, capacity, and frequency to meet evolving mission scenarios. It builds on the reliability of Airbus’ Eurostar geostationary telecommunication satellites and the company’s expertise in constellations with OneWeb. The development of the OneSat program is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), the French Space Agency (CNES), and the UK Space Agency.
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