Thaicom Plc wants to bid for an in-orbit American satellite to replace Thaicom 2, which will be retired in 2010.
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry is studying the request from the country's sole satellite operator, said Nimit Damrongrat,an adviser to the ICT minister.
He said officials would have to review the company's concession agreement to determine whether it allows the purchase of an existing satellite to replace one that is going to expire.
However, he said Thaicom's proposal was interesting and might be better than leasing transponders from other foreign satellites to provide services.
The leasing option poses problems because questions arise about who owns the satellite, since the concession is con-sidered a national asset, he said.
Mr Nimit said the purchase of an orbiting foreign satellite by bidding would require Thaicom to reposition the foreign satellite to the orbital slot of Thaicom 2 to continue servicing customers.
But he said that purchasing an orbiting satellite also had limitations, especially if its specifications and materials did not fulfil actual needs.
Constructing a new replacement sat-ellite remains the best choice, as it meets the original terms of the concession.
The unnamed owner of the satellite Thaicom wants to buy is reportedly facing financial problems. An industry source added the unit was not functioning well in its current orbital slot because of interference from other satellites.
Thaicom shares (THCOM) closed unchanged at 8.15 baht yesterday on the SET in trade worth 143 million baht.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
ICT Minister defers Thaicom change
The satellite concession contract between the Information and Communication Technology Ministry and Thaicom Plc cannot be amended because it is long-term and was signed more than 12 years ago, said ICT Minister Ranongruk Suwunchwee.
She expressed her view after Thaicom requested an amendment that will allow it to lease a foreign satellite instead of building a replacement before its satellite reaches the end of its lifespan.
"The concession contract cannot be amended because it was signed more than 12 years ago. But if it is an attachment to the contract, it might be possible.However, this has to be reconsidered thoroughly," she said.
She has assigned vice-minister Nimit Damrongrat to handle the issue and expects a solution by the end of this month, she said.
In her view, Thaicom should build the satellites as it has many private and government clients.
Meanwhile, Mr Nimit has suggested as an interim solution that Thaicom be permitted to lease foreign satellites. But he specified that the company should speed up building at least two satellites - one to replace the satellite due to cease operating next year and another as a backup.
Thaicom chief executive Arak Chonlatanon said Thaicom can cope with existing and new demand next year as it is shifting some customers from Thaicom 2 to Thaicom 5.
Thaicom already proposed to the ICT Ministry that in the transition period before its satellite is ready to launch, it would lease foreign satellites, he said.
He also contradicted a report that Samart Corporation has approached Temasek about taking over Thaicom.Despite being on the Shin board, Mr Arak said he had never heard of this.
If there were any interest in buying Thaicom shares, he could not answer on behalf of shareholders, he said. But as Temasek is not a direct shareholder of Thaicom, it could not sell Thaicom or any individual company to anyone,he said.
Thaicom's total value in the market is about 10 billion baht, he said. Its satellite has no value but its orbiting right is valuable, he added.
Samart's president Watchai Vilailuck gave the brief response "I didn't do that" when asked to comment on the company's approach to Temasek.
Thaicom plans to launch Thaicom 6, which has more than 20 transponders in both the C and Ku bands, to replace Thaicom 2.
The company's concession will expire in 12 years but Thaicom wants some clear direction now, as satellite contracts are long term, some up to 10 years.
Shares of Thaicom (THCOM) closed on the SET at 7.85 baht, down five satang,in trade worth 299 million baht.
She expressed her view after Thaicom requested an amendment that will allow it to lease a foreign satellite instead of building a replacement before its satellite reaches the end of its lifespan.
"The concession contract cannot be amended because it was signed more than 12 years ago. But if it is an attachment to the contract, it might be possible.However, this has to be reconsidered thoroughly," she said.
She has assigned vice-minister Nimit Damrongrat to handle the issue and expects a solution by the end of this month, she said.
In her view, Thaicom should build the satellites as it has many private and government clients.
Meanwhile, Mr Nimit has suggested as an interim solution that Thaicom be permitted to lease foreign satellites. But he specified that the company should speed up building at least two satellites - one to replace the satellite due to cease operating next year and another as a backup.
Thaicom chief executive Arak Chonlatanon said Thaicom can cope with existing and new demand next year as it is shifting some customers from Thaicom 2 to Thaicom 5.
Thaicom already proposed to the ICT Ministry that in the transition period before its satellite is ready to launch, it would lease foreign satellites, he said.
He also contradicted a report that Samart Corporation has approached Temasek about taking over Thaicom.Despite being on the Shin board, Mr Arak said he had never heard of this.
If there were any interest in buying Thaicom shares, he could not answer on behalf of shareholders, he said. But as Temasek is not a direct shareholder of Thaicom, it could not sell Thaicom or any individual company to anyone,he said.
Thaicom's total value in the market is about 10 billion baht, he said. Its satellite has no value but its orbiting right is valuable, he added.
Samart's president Watchai Vilailuck gave the brief response "I didn't do that" when asked to comment on the company's approach to Temasek.
Thaicom plans to launch Thaicom 6, which has more than 20 transponders in both the C and Ku bands, to replace Thaicom 2.
The company's concession will expire in 12 years but Thaicom wants some clear direction now, as satellite contracts are long term, some up to 10 years.
Shares of Thaicom (THCOM) closed on the SET at 7.85 baht, down five satang,in trade worth 299 million baht.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
TEMASEK "WOOS" THAI FIRMS
Samart has reportedly been approached to take a stake
Singapore's state investment arm Temasek Holdings is courting
Thai firms, including telecom conglomerate Samart Corp, to buy a stake in its satellite operator Thaicom, an industry source said yesterday.
The move would help dispel criticism that national security assets are being owned by foreign governments or corporations.
Temasek took over Shin Corp, the holding company of Thaicom and other telecom interests, in 2006 through the purchase of shares from the family of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and other shareholders.
Temasek's subsidiaries Aspen Holdings and Cedar Holdings hold a combined 96 per cent of Shin Corp, which in turn owns 41 per
cent of Thaicom and over 42 per cent of Shin's cellular flagship, Advanced Info Ser-vice.
Thaicom runs the Thaicom 1, 2 and 5 broadcasting satellites and iPStar broadband satellite, but Thaicom 1 and 2 will reach the end of their life-span late this year and in the middle of next year, respectively.
Thaicom has finished migrating Thaicom 1 customers to Thaicom 5. It has sought the Information and Communica-tion Technology Ministry's permission to lease a transponder from a foreign satellite to serve Thaicom 2's customers. The ministry is considering the request.
The source said Temasek and Samart have yet to begin detailed talks, as it is just the initial phase.
When contacted by The Nation last week to confirm the matter, Samart president Watchai Vilailuck declined to comment.
Thaicom also operates cellular businesses in Laos and Cambodia, and runs an Internet service, while Samart distributes mobile phones in Thailand and the region and runs the air-traffic controller service in Cambodia.
Thaicom's stock closed at Bt7.90 on Friday, up from Bt7.65 a day earlier. Samart closed unchanged at Bt6.20.
Singapore's state investment arm Temasek Holdings is courting
Thai firms, including telecom conglomerate Samart Corp, to buy a stake in its satellite operator Thaicom, an industry source said yesterday.
The move would help dispel criticism that national security assets are being owned by foreign governments or corporations.
Temasek took over Shin Corp, the holding company of Thaicom and other telecom interests, in 2006 through the purchase of shares from the family of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and other shareholders.
Temasek's subsidiaries Aspen Holdings and Cedar Holdings hold a combined 96 per cent of Shin Corp, which in turn owns 41 per
cent of Thaicom and over 42 per cent of Shin's cellular flagship, Advanced Info Ser-vice.
Thaicom runs the Thaicom 1, 2 and 5 broadcasting satellites and iPStar broadband satellite, but Thaicom 1 and 2 will reach the end of their life-span late this year and in the middle of next year, respectively.
Thaicom has finished migrating Thaicom 1 customers to Thaicom 5. It has sought the Information and Communica-tion Technology Ministry's permission to lease a transponder from a foreign satellite to serve Thaicom 2's customers. The ministry is considering the request.
The source said Temasek and Samart have yet to begin detailed talks, as it is just the initial phase.
When contacted by The Nation last week to confirm the matter, Samart president Watchai Vilailuck declined to comment.
Thaicom also operates cellular businesses in Laos and Cambodia, and runs an Internet service, while Samart distributes mobile phones in Thailand and the region and runs the air-traffic controller service in Cambodia.
Thaicom's stock closed at Bt7.90 on Friday, up from Bt7.65 a day earlier. Samart closed unchanged at Bt6.20.
Friday, September 11, 2009
WHITE SHARKS TAGGED
Officials in the US state of Massachusetts are using hi-tech tags to track the movements of two great white sharks near Cape Cod. Its the first time the fearsome fish have ever been tagged in the Atlantic Ocean.
The electronic tags use satellite technology to record the travels of the sharks, allowing scientists to better understand their migratory patterns.
The sharks were spotted by scientists at the weekend and were tagged by a harpooner with help from a shark expert.
Sharks are common in Cape waters during summer, although great white sharks are relatively rare around New England.
Immediately after the sharks were sighted and tagged, state officials warned swimmers in the area to be on the lookout and state environmental police patrolled the area as a precaution.
The electronic tags use satellite technology to record the travels of the sharks, allowing scientists to better understand their migratory patterns.
The sharks were spotted by scientists at the weekend and were tagged by a harpooner with help from a shark expert.
Sharks are common in Cape waters during summer, although great white sharks are relatively rare around New England.
Immediately after the sharks were sighted and tagged, state officials warned swimmers in the area to be on the lookout and state environmental police patrolled the area as a precaution.
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