A total of 806.5 million baht was raised yesterday during the country's first auction for satellite orbital slot packages, which saw SET-listed satellite service operator Thaicom secure two of five packages and state enterprise National Telecom (NT) obtain one.
The auction started at 10am and wrapped up about 1.5 hours later.
Thaicom sent its subsidiary, Space Tech Innovation, to participate in the bidding. Its two competitors were NT, which was formed through the merger of state telecom enterprises CAT Telecom and TOT in 2021, and Prompt Technical Services, which is engaged in a very-small-aperture terminal business for oil rigs.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) offered five packages for the auction, which marks the country's satellite business transition from a concession system to a licensing regime.
The first package comprises the 50.5° East and 51° E slots, with a starting price of 374 million baht. The second is for 78.5° E, with a starting price of 360 million baht.
The third covers the 119.5° E and 120° E slots, with a starting price of 397 million baht. The fourth is for 126° E, with a starting price of 8.6 million baht, while the fifth package covers 142° E, with a starting price of 189 million baht. Bid prices increased by 5% in each round. However, no one bid for the first and fifth packages.
Space Tech Innovation and Prompt Technical Services competed in the first bidding round for the second package. Prompt did not bid in the second round, leaving the Thaicom subsidiary the winner at a price of 380 million baht.
The third package was also secured by Space Tech Innovation -- the sole bidder -- at a price of 417.4 million baht. NT was the sole bidder for the fourth package, obtaining the licence for 9 million baht.
The results were announced by the NBTC shortly after bidding was concluded. Its board is due to meet on Wednesday to issue a resolution to officially approve the auction results.
AM Thanapant Raicharoen, NBTC commissioner, said the regulator was satisfied with the auction results, although the winning bids were only slightly above the reserve prices.
"The auction marks the successful transition of the satellite business from the concession system to the licensing regime," he said.