Thaicom, Globalstar LEO partnership
March 28, 2022
By Chris Forrester
Thaicom, the Asian leading satellite operator, has announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Globalstar, a global LEO satellite operator and provider of satellite IoT solutions and mobile satellite services, to collaborate on the establishment and operation of Globalstar’s low-earth orbit satellite (LEO) ground facilities in Thailand and regional commercial service deployment, with a focus on personnel safety and management solutions for Thailand’s Tourism and Maritime industry.
According to the agreement, Thaicom and Globalstar will collaborate to develop and operate ground station facilities in Thailand at Thaicom’s Teleport Center, located in Pathumthani Province, for Globalstar’s LEO satellite constellation. The infrastructure and services of the ground station will enable the deployment of commercial LEO satellite services by Globalstar in the region.
The partners say they intend to commercialise services and solutions aimed at encouraging personnel life safety and management for tourism in Thailand as well as the maritime industry in the region. The services will ensure safety and enhance the development of maritime and tourism security. The collaboration will also provide an opportunity for LEO satellite business expansion in Thailand and the region.
Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Thaicom’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are very pleased to partner with Globalstar. This collaboration is a strategic move in expanding our portfolio of cooperation with leading global LEO operators which will complement our existing satellite services. Our experience and expertise in the satellite industry, along with Globalstar’s world-class services for Personnel Safety & Management will serve to provide our customers with advanced satellite solutions for the digital era. We believe this strategic alliance between the two companies will lay the foundation for a long-term relationship and sustainable growth in the satellite industry in this region.”
Louisiana-based Globalstar started out as a joint venture between Loral and Qualcomm. Its first satellites were orbited in 1998 but a launch failure delayed the operation of the full system until 2000. Bankruptcy followed and a restructured company emerged in 2004 and relaunched as Globalstar in 2006. The company specialises in mobile satellite voice and data and now serves some 120 countries. Its satellites orbit at about 1400 kms with a latency of some 60ms.