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ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Thaicom-gets-IPM-Co-as-its-first-customer-30292145.html

THAICOM

THE NATION August 5, 2016 1:00 am

THE THAICOM 8 satellite has clinched its first customer, IPM Company, the country’s leading direct-to-home provider, which has awarded it a contract for transponder service.

“With Thaicom 8, we will able to utilise Thaicom’s leading video channel neighbourhood and broadcast platform at 78.5 degree east for the cost-effective expansion of our business including high definition TV in the not-so-distant future,” Manop Tokarnka, chief executive officer of IPM, said yesterday.

The contract is a major milestone for Thaicom 8, which was launched into orbit in May. Its satellite capacity will enable IPM to move its four million satellite dishes to the 78.5-degree east position ofThaicom 8.

The agreement is in line with Thaicom’s business plan of providing the satellite capacity needed to fuel the fast growth of the broadcast and media industries in Asia.

IPM is the country’s leading satellite dish provider on the Ku-band.

It is pleased to enter into the partnership with Thaicom through this deal.

“We believe Thaicom offers superior satellite performance and customer service over other operators, which is another reason why IPM decided to be on Thaicom 8.

“IPM has gone from strength to strength with local content channels as part of our strategy to strengthen the IPM satellite TV platform.

“Thaicom plays an important part in this strategy,” he said.

Paiboon Panuwattanawong, CEO of Thaicom, said the Thai TV market is one of the most dynamic and competitive in Asia.

“We are particularly proud of the fact that IPM moved from a global top three satellite operator to Thaicom, which is a testament to the trust in us and the tangible benefits that we bring to our customers,” he said.

Thaicom 8 represents a total solution for broadcast and data clients in Asia and Africa with excellent Ku-band coverage.

The satellite supports the high demand for capacity of the broadcasting industry as it transitions from standard definition to high definition and ultra-high definition.

Thaicom 8 carries 24 Ku-band transponders covering Thailand, South Asia and Africa.

Co-located with Thaicoms 5 and 6, Thaicom 8 entered service in July. It is designed to operate for more than 15 years.

THE GOVERNMENT should consider the impact on Thaicom if it slaps additional conditions or more regulatory fees on two of the company’s satellites, chief executive officer Paiboon Panuwattanawong said in a statement released yesterday.

The Information and Communications Technology Ministry plans to ask Thaicom 7 and 8 satellites to pay annual concession fees to the ministry until 2021, on top of the annual licence fees they already pay to the National Broadcasting and Telecom-munications Commission.

The ministry claims the move is to resolve redundant roles between itself and the NBTC in overseeing the commercial satellite sector.

The Thaicom 4, 5 and 6 satellites operate under an ICT Ministry concession that will expire in 2021, while Thaicom 7 and 8 operated under the NBTC licensing regime. Thaicom will face higher regulatory costs if Thaicom 7 and 8 have to pay the concession fee in addition to the licence fee.

The annual licence fee is 5.25 per cent of Thaicom’s gross revenue, while the annual concession fee is 20.5 per cent of its gross revenue.

According to the statement, the rules and licence fees of Thaicom 7 and 8 were determined by the law that mandates the change from the concession to the licensing regime. The low licence fee reflects the law’s intention to support the satellites’ long-term competitiveness. Therefore, if the government wants to impose additional conditions or additional fees on Thaicom 7 and 8, it should also consider the possible impacts on the company that has invested in these two satellites, it said.

The company also wants to see the government regulating the satellite sector’s competition on the fair basis. Foreign satellite operators now provide services in Thailand without consent and without paying fees to the state. Therefore, the government must ensure that all players compete on a level playing field, Thaicom said.

The company also urged the government to come up with a clearer satellite policy and regulations as soon as possible. It said it was willing to meet with the government to provide relevant information and discuss the matter.