Bangkok--Dec 22--Shin Satellite
Shin Satellite Public Company Limited (SATTEL) today announced that TOT Public Company Limited (TOT) was officially appointed its National Service Operator for IPSTAR in Thailand.
Dr. Dumrong Kasemset, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SATTEL, said, “Shin Satellite is honored to appoint the TOT officially as the National Service Operator for IPSTAR in Thailand. The TOT has impressive experience as one of the largest full-service telecommunications companies in Thailand. For the past three years, it has deployed IPSTAR services through 12 service providers as its partners, provisionally using an IPSTAR gateway with our conventional satellites, Thaicom 1A, 2 and 3. Today, over 20,000 user terminals have been successfully deployed. We are also transferring our current service providers and customers to the TOT. Customers on Thaicom 1A, 2 and 3 will now be relocated to Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR) with service to be provided by the TOT.
“Our close cooperation with the TOT involved setting up a joint marketing committee with responsibility for setting marketing policy, in order to emphasize service quality and to introduce new applications to the market. SATTEL will be responsible for operating the Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR) satellite and gateway. With its long experience in the satellite business, SATTEL is ready to advise the TOT with regard to the IPSTAR system,” said Dr. Kasemset.
Mr. Teerawit Charuwat, President of TOT Public Company Limited said, “The TOT is fully prepared to take on the role of National Service Operator for IPSTAR in Thailand. We are confident that IPSTAR technology will be of benefit to both organizations and individuals. Our main targets include using IPSTAR to expand the rural telephone network. We will also introduce the technology to areas at risk from natural disasters, as we know that IPSTAR will still be in service when terrestrial telecommunications networks are inoperable following a disaster. TOT will also introduce IPSTAR for use as part of corporate intranets for government organizations and state enterprises, such as the Ministry of Education, for which we have already deployed 11,000 user terminals. As demand for broadband internet access is increasing, the TOT will use IPSTAR to extend broadband multimedia services to customers. This triple play service includes video, sound and high-speed data access.
“The TOT envisages IPSTAR as being an alternative solution, providing the whole country with equal access to communications and information, helping to support the growth of broadband internet nationally,” Teerawit added.
Following the successful launch of the Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR) satellite in August 2005, Shin Satellite has opened six IPSTAR gateways in five countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand and Myanmar. The Thai IPSTAR gateway is located at the Thaicom Teleport in Pathum Thani. The Company eventually expects to install 18 gateways in 14 countries around the Asia Pacific Region.
For more information please contact:
Shin Satellite:
Mrs. Janaskorn Pongchabubnapa or Ms Piyanuch Sujpluem, Investor and Public Relations, Shin Satellite Plc, 41/103 Rattanathibet Rd., Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand. Tel. (66 2) 591-0736 to 49 Ext. 8495 or 5084 Fax. (66 2) 591-0724, email: janaskop@thaicom.net or piyanucs@thaicom.net End.