The Information and Communications Technology Ministry has proposed for Cabinet consideration today its plan to move the Thaicom 2 satellite from its present orbital slot of 78.5 degrees east to 50.5 degrees east in order to maintain the country's right to the latter.
A ministry source said the right to the 50.5degreeeast slot would expire at the end of this year. By moving Thaicom 2, the Kingdom would be able to continue the right for an additional 18 months.
The state-private joint panel founded under Article 22 of the Public Private Joint Venture Act to oversee Thaicom satellite concessions has already approved the plan, the source added.
The ministry regards the 50.5degreeeast slot as very important, as a satellite beaming data from that position can cover the Middle East and Africa. The country reserved the orbital slot a long time ago but has never used it.
According to International Telecommunication Union regulations, if a country does not use an orbital slot it has reserved for a certain period, other countries have the right to apply for it.
It was satellite operator Thaicom that recently suggested to the ICT Ministry the idea of maintaining the right by moving the slot.
Thaicom operates the Thaicom 2 and 5 broadcasting satellites and the iPSTAR broadband satellite. Thaicom 2's lifespan expires this year.