THAICOM to launch Thaicom 6, 7 in 2013, 2014

BANGKOK, June 19 (TNA) - THAICOM Public Company Limited (THAICOM) has publicly announced it will launch THAICOM 6 and THAICOM 7 satellites in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Suphajee Suthumpun, Chairperson of the THAICOM board and the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), told journalists on Wednesday that the THAICOM 6 satellite will be launched and start services in the third quarter of this year, followed by THAICOM 7 satellite in either the first or second quarter of next year. Suphajee acknowledged that THAICOM has already sold over 60 per cent of its transponders on the THAICOM 6 satellite, with most clients having been from Africa, Egypt, Somalia and Thailand, and has also sold over 40 per cent of transponders on the THAICOM 7 satellite. According to the THAICOM board chairperson and CEO, her company plans to deploy a satellite on THAICOM 6’s 78.5 degrees east orbital slot for two months to earn extra revenues from the temporary services, before the launch of the THAICOM 6 satellite to replace the temporary satellite in due course. (TNA)