MUMBAI: It’s being talked about as a bit of a regulatory breakthrough. 

Thai communications  and satellite space tech firm Thaicom Public Co Ltd’s 100 per cent owned Indian subsidiary IPStar India Pvt Ltd (IPstar)  has got the go-ahead from the Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre (InSpace)  to provide services through its  satellites under India’s new space policy.

Among the birds  that have got the go-ahead include: the ageing Thaicom-4 which was launched in 2005 and is also called IPstar! located at 119.5 degrees east, Thaicom 8 at 78.5 degrees east. The agency also granted an authorisation for Thaicom’s new satellite at 119.5 degrees East, Thaicom 9 , the next-generation satellite with software-defined high throughput technology that will be launched in 2025. 

Thaicom’s satellite services will focus on delivering broadband satellite solutions to enhance India’s digital infrastructure, targeting not only rural markets but also underserved areas with connectivity challenges. This initiative aims to contribute to bridging the digital divide in the region while meet the growing and diverse demand for satellite services in India.

 Thaicom’s chief executive officer Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri stated that the company is dedicated to “serving India in the long term. We are convinced that our extensive knowledge in the satellite industry and commitment to broadband service delivery will enable us to meet India’s insatiable demand for broadband connectivity, he added.