Bidding for satellite orbit licences to launch on July 24

“This will be the first time ever in Thailand that operators can bid for a licence to use satellite orbits," said NBTC deputy secretary-general Air Marshal Thanaphan Raijaroen. "In the past, rights to use orbits have been granted under concession contracts, with the last contract period ending on September 10,” he said.

“The bidding will be in the form of SACA [sequential ascending clock auction], where eligible bidders must pass the qualification screening round before they can place their bids for each package of satellite orbits,” he said.

Four packages of satellite orbits will be put up for auction:

- Package 1: 50.5E and 51E orbits, starting price THB676.914 million

- Package 2: 78.5E orbit, starting price THB366.488 million

- Package 3: 119.5E and 120E orbits, starting price THB392.950 million

- Package 4: 126E and 142E orbits, starting price THB364.687 million.

Interested operators can purchase bidding envelopes from May 21 and submit documents from June 21. The list of those who pass the qualification screening round will be announced on July 12.

“We will provide an instruction course for qualified bidders and organise a mock auction from July 19 to 21, while the actual auction will take place on July 24,” Thanaphan said.

“The NBTC is expected to acknowledge the bidding result within 7 days,” he added.