Boom Times Back for Satellite Industry

By Srisamorn Phoosuphanusorn, Bangkok Post, Thailand

Asia Pacific’s satellite industry is returning to the boom times it experienced in the early 1990s, as it moves toward fourth-generation broadcast-oriented satellites, according to the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC).

Integrated audio and visual applications and global positioning system (GPS) technology via satellite channels are set to become next-generation wireless communications services, said association president Nongluck Phinainitisart.

"This boom [of the fourth generation] is expected to take place in the consumer market, with 20 percent growth expected over the next five years," she said.

Dr Nongluck said satellite technology was likely to play a greater role in wireless data communication services and third-generation (3G) mobile phones in Asia Pacific. The size of the regional market is estimated to be worth at least US$1 billion in the first five years of operations.

Thailand could see new satellite-based services over the next five years, said Dr Nongluck, who is also the president of Shin Satellite Plc, the satellite arm of Shin Corporation.

The APSCC, a non-profit organisation, is holding the 10th Asia-Pacific satellite communication, broadcasting and space conference and exhibition this week in Bangkok for the first time. The event will draw by 350 people from 110 member organisations in 31 countries, ranging from satellite operators to equipment manufacturers, satellite launchers and ground-station operators.

The three-day conference is being held from today to Thursday at the Millennium Hilton Hotel.

The event is expected to promote satellite communications and space-related businesses and to serve as a forum to discuss the market and business opportunities in the fast-growing region.

Dumrong Kasemset, the chairman of Shin Satellite, has won the Satellite Executive of the Year Asia-Pacific Award.

Dr Nongluck said the satellite industry had been experiencing growth of between 5 percent and 10 percent in the past two generations, mainly defined by fibre lines and cellular technologies.

Given growing demand for data communications and shrinking voice-based revenue, cellular operators are looking to develop new services, she said, adding that satellite radio and television, satellite-based navigation system on mobile phones and satellite internet would be next satellite communication trends.

Satellite radio has already been introduced in the United States and satellite TV is now available in Korea, she added.

Satellite technology is moving from broadband to broadcast systems.

Dr Nongluck said satellite-based services had advantages over fibre and other wireline-based services due to their greater availability of signal channels and wider coverage through remote areas.

But she acknowledged that the growth rate of the satellite sector was still tied closely with the media industry’s development.

Dr Nongluck also urged the Thai government to recognise the importance of having the country’s standby satellite network along with ground systems to accommodate disasters, mostly in provincial areas.