Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has granted Mobile LTE a satellite operator licence. Mobile LTE has received a 15-year licence to operate both a satellite-transponder leasing service and a satellite-signal uplink/downlink service, The Nation reports, citing NBTC member Prawit Leesatapornwongsa. According to Leesatapornwongsa, Mobile LTE will talk with the Minister Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to reserve an orbital slot.
Set up in 2014, Mobile LTE has a registered capital of THB 100 million. It currently holds an NBTC licence as an MVNO but has not yet launched mobile services. Mobile LTE CEO Varayuth Yenbamroong said Mobile LTE’s satellite business will be financially supported by Silicon Valley companies and an energy services provider.
Mobile LTE plans to lease a number of transponders from a Chinese satellite operator to provide services in Thailand this year before leasing an entire satellite to provide the service in 2019. It will build its own satellite in 2021. Mobile LTE is financed by Northern Gulf Petroleum.
According to Yenbamroong, in the initial phase, Mobile LTE will develop low-and medium-Earth-orbit communication satellites such as the Iridium global satellite network for mobile voice and data communications, but with more advanced technology. Mobile LTE plans to launch a geosynchronous satellite similar to those of Thaicom within the next 5 years.
Mobile LTE also seeks to partner Thai state-owned operator TOT, and provide wireless broadband services using the state operator’s 2.3 GHz spectrum.
