Thailand’s Shin Satellite was preparing Saturday to move iPSTAR, the world’s largest broadband satellite, to the Ariane satellite launch base in French Guiana.
The satellite is expected to be relocated within the next two weeks, and to be launched into orbit within the next few months, the Bangkok Post reported.
Tanadit Charoenchan, Shin Satellite’s chief financial officer, said the company’s satellite business is poised to continue growing, thanks to strong economic growth in Asia Pacific. The company currently has three satellites in service, Thaicom 1, 2 and 3.
However, Tanadit said competition has been intensified by an overpopulation of satellite transponders.
He said the company expected improved revenue in the second half of this year, thanks to iPSTAR services and some long-term contracts for Thaicom services already signed with state agencies.
Shin Satellite expects iPSTAR to break even once the company leases out 20 percent of the total transponders, or eight gigabytes out of the total 40.
