Thaicom Plc, the country's sole private satellite service operator, expects its business to triple by 2019, supported by increasing demand from satellite transponders in the country.
The satellite arm of InTouch, formerly known as Shin Corp, is on the verge of increasing its satellites from two to six to sustain revenue growth and accommodate the burgeoning digital and satellite TV markets.
Somprasong Boonyachai, executive chairman of InTouch, said Thaicom is the second biggest source of revenue for InTouch after the mobile flagship Advanced Info Service (AIS).
Suphajee Suthumpun, chief executive of Thaicom, said the company is moving to expand its global satellite footprint beyond Asia.
A well-placed source at InTouch said Mrs Suphajee is tipped to succeed Mr Somprasong as the head of the country's leading telecom firm after he retires.
Mrs Suphajee said the company plans to launch the Thaicom 6 satellite, worth US$160 million, into orbit later this year. The satellite, covering Asia and Africa, has been booked to 60% of capacity.
The company is preparing to launch the Thaicom 7 satellite, worth $170 million, by June 2014, covering South Asia.
She added the company is accelerating plans to launch Thaicom 8 by early 2016. The planned 440-transponder broadband satellite, also known as iPSTAR 2, will cost about $200 million.
The company also expects to launch broadcast satellite Thaicom 9, to be positioned at 50.5 degrees east, to reserve the country's orbital slot, which expired last November. It plans to expand its footprint in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Mrs Suphajee, also the chairwoman of InVent, the venture capital arm of InTouch, said InVent is completing its due diligence before acquiring up to a 30% share in two Thai software firms for 70 million baht to capitalise on the cloud-based service market.
Cloud computing is one of eight strategic growth businesses under InTouch's five-year strategic plan.