Thaicom Contracts Airbus for a OneSat Flexible Telecommunications Satellite
September 11, 2023 | AirbusEstimated reading time: 1 minute

Thaicom Public Company Limited, a leading Asian satellite operator and space technology company, has selected Airbus for its new generation software-defined high throughput satellite.
Airbus will provide one of its latest designed satellites - a fully reconfigurable OneSat. This Thaicom satellite will provide extended connectivity in Ku-band over the Asia-Pacific region for millions of users. Thaicom has launched and operated eight geostationary satellites. This is Thaicom’s first flexible satellite, allowing for more adaptability on coverage, frequency and capacity which is crucial in such a dynamic region.
Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Airbus Space Systems, said: “This significant contract with leading satellite operator Thaicom, is the ninth order for our pioneering OneSat product line which is fully reconfigurable in orbit and provides unrivalled flexibility. This collaboration with Thaicom is a first, and we look forward to further building our relationship in the future.”
Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Thaicom's Chief Executive Officer, commented: "I am delighted that we have selected Airbus to build our new generation of software-defined high throughput satellite (HTS). As the world’s leading satellite technology provider, we trust that Airbus will be our best choice for building our new satellite at the strategic location of 119.5 degrees East. It will allow flexibility and instant reconfiguration to adapt dynamically to the service areas and will provide a significant confidence boost for Thaicom’s valued customers and partners throughout Asia Pacific. This is a significant milestone for Thaicom as we forge ahead to further grow our broadband satellite business in the region.”
Positioned in orbit at 119.5° East, this state-of-the art satellite will enable Thaicom to propose to other partner operators a share of its satellite’s payload capacity, lowering their costs and still ensuring they have separate control of their individual payload capacity and flexibility.
Airbus will design and manufacture the satellite, and also provide ground control segment components. Airbus plans to deliver the satellite in 2027.
Airbus OneSat can be fully reconfigured in orbit, capable of adjusting the coverage area, capacity and frequency “on the fly” to meet evolving mission scenarios. It builds on the heritage of Airbus’ ultra-reliable Eurostar geostationary telecommunication satellites and the company’s constellation expertise with OneWeb. Development of the OneSat programme is supported by ESA, as well as the French Space Agency (CNES), and the UK Space Agency.
Suggested Items
ZESTRON Announces New Reliability and Solutions Service for Risk Assessment & Mitigation of Electronic Assemblies
05/06/2025 | ZESTRONZESTRON, the leading global provider of high-precision cleaning products, services, and training solutions, is thrilled to introduce its new Reliability and Solutions (R&S) service.
L3Harris, Thales Develop Next-Generation SHORAD Capability
05/05/2025 | L3Harris TechnologiesL3Harris Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding with Thales UK to develop an integrated short-range air defence (SHORAD) command and control capability.
KYZEN to Spotlight Stencil Cleaning Solutions at SMTA Oregon
05/02/2025 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally friendly cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at the SMTA Oregon Expo & Tech Forum, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 20 at the Wingspan Event and Conference Center in Hillsboro, OR. KYZEN’s cleaning expert Jeff Deering will be on-site at the expo providing information about stencil cleaning chemistries, including KYZEN E5631J.
BAE Systems Selected to Enhance Ground System for Space Force Missile Warning Satellites
04/29/2025 | BAE SystemsBAE Systems has been selected by U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to provide a new satellite command and control (C2) system for its Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) program.
KYZEN to Feature Stencil Cleaning and Aqueous Cleaners at SMTA Capital Expo and Tech Form
04/28/2025 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally responsible cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at the SMTA Capital Expo and Tech Forum, scheduled to take place Thursday, May 8 at George Mason University – Mason Square in Arlington, VA.