# Thaicom

> series of Thai communications satellites

**Wikidata**: [Q1477681](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1477681)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/thaicom

## Summary
Thaicom is a series of Thai communications satellites operated by Thaicom Public Company Limited. It includes multiple geostationary satellites designed for telecommunications services across Southeast Asia and beyond.

## Key Facts
- Thaicom satellites are classified as both communications satellites and geostationary satellites
- The series includes at least seven satellites: Thaicom 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 (with others implied by the "series" designation)
- Thaicom 4 is specifically designated as a high-throughput communications satellite
- Thaicom 3 has been decommissioned and is no longer operational
- The satellites are operated by Thaicom Public Company Limited, a Thai company
- Thaicom satellites serve Thailand and the broader Southeast Asian region
- The series is also known by the alias "Shinawatra Satellite"
- Thaicom is classified as a spacecraft series on Wikidata

## FAQs
### Q: What is Thaicom?
A: Thaicom is a series of Thai communications satellites operated by Thaicom Public Company Limited. These geostationary satellites provide telecommunications services across Southeast Asia and beyond.

### Q: How many Thaicom satellites are there?
A: The Thaicom series includes at least seven satellites that have been identified: Thaicom 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8, plus others implied by the "series" designation. Thaicom 3 has been decommissioned.

### Q: Who operates Thaicom satellites?
A: Thaicom satellites are operated by Thaicom Public Company Limited, a Thai company that provides satellite communication services throughout Southeast Asia.

## Why It Matters
Thaicom represents Thailand's significant investment in space-based communications infrastructure, providing critical telecommunications services to a region where terrestrial networks may be limited or unreliable. As a series of geostationary communications satellites, Thaicom enables television broadcasting, internet services, and data communications across Southeast Asia, supporting both commercial and government operations. The program demonstrates Thailand's technological capabilities in space and contributes to the country's digital economy. High-throughput satellites like Thaicom 4 represent advances in satellite technology, offering increased capacity and performance compared to earlier generations. By maintaining its own satellite constellation, Thailand reduces dependence on foreign satellite operators and maintains control over its communications infrastructure, which is vital for national security, economic development, and connecting remote communities.

## Notable For
- Being Thailand's national satellite communications program
- Operating multiple generations of geostationary communications satellites
- Including high-throughput satellite technology with Thaicom 4
- Providing telecommunications services across Southeast Asia
- Being known by the alias "Shinawatra Satellite"

## Body
### Overview
Thaicom is a series of communications satellites operated by Thaicom Public Company Limited, a Thai satellite operator. The satellites are designed for geostationary orbit and provide telecommunications services including broadcasting, internet, and data communications.

### Satellite Generations
The Thaicom series includes multiple satellite generations, with specific models including Thaicom 3 (now decommissioned), Thaicom 4 (high-throughput), Thaicom 5, Thaicom 6, and Thaicom 8. Each generation represents technological improvements in capacity and capabilities.

### Technical Classification
Thaicom satellites are classified as both communications satellites and geostationary satellites. This dual classification reflects their function (communications) and their orbital position (geostationary orbit at approximately 35,786 km above the equator).

### Regional Impact
The Thaicom constellation serves Thailand and extends coverage throughout Southeast Asia. These satellites provide critical infrastructure for television broadcasting, internet services, and data communications in a region where terrestrial infrastructure may be limited, particularly in rural and remote areas.

### Operational Status
While Thaicom 3 has been decommissioned, other satellites in the series remain operational. The program demonstrates Thailand's ongoing commitment to maintaining independent satellite communications capabilities.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Thaicom",
  "description": "Series of Thai communications satellites operated by Thaicom Public Company Limited",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15241312",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaicom"
  ],
  "additionalType": "spacecraft series"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013