mu Space Corp becomes the first start-up in Thailand to acquire a satellite licence
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mu Space Corp becomes the first start-up in Thailand to acquire a satellite licence

mu Space Corp, the space technology start-up, has become the first in Thailand to be awarded a satellite licence by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

Under the 15 year licence terms, mu Space Corp will be able to operate and provision satellite based services until the year 2032.

Commenting on the news, Samathorn Teankingkaeo, mu Space’s chief technical officer, said that he and his team plan on providing satellite services that are affordable and easy to install, plus fast customer service and wide coverage particularly rural areas, adding: “Rural communities are mostly thinly populated and far from big cities. That’s why only a few companies go there to build telecom infrastructures. To overcome these challenges and provide rural communities with broadband, using a satellite is the best alternative.”

With only 12% of Thailand’s 68 million population having access to broadband “We want to help improve the quality of life,” added Samathorn. “Through satellite, we can provide invaluable solutions to support the government’s Thailand 4.0 economic policy, and bridge the digital gap between urban and rural areas.”

mu Space is planning on launching its own satellite by the year 2021, adding that it also plans on offering space tourism to its Asian customers within the next decade.

In September the company signed an agreement with Thailand’s government supporting it in its vision to build a digital park and learning academy for the internet of things (IoT). In the same month mu Space Corp became Blue Origins, the aerospace manufacturer, first Asian customer, signing a deal to partner on a future satellite launch.

Earlier this year, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission confirmed its intention to unify its telecoms and broadcasting regime to take account of convergence between the two industries. Having separate, inflexible laws doesn’t match with the era of technological convergence,” commented NBTC commissioner Prawit Leesatapornwongsa. 

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