China’s Low Earth Orbit Broadband Satellite Internet Landing in Thailand

Under the satellite antenna on the roof of the teaching building of Mahanko University of Technology in Thailand, the director of the satellite research laboratory of Mahanko University of Technology, Suponsa Kaikley, used his mobile phone to broadcast live. The network signal he used came from China’s low orbit broadband satellite Internet, which had just been successfully tested.
This is the scene of the recent test and verification of China’s commercial aerospace company Galaxy Aerospace and Mahanko University of Technology in Thailand to realize the LEO satellite Internet broadband communication network. As a member of the validation expert group, Suponsa said: “China’s commercial aerospace companies have brought advanced satellite Internet technology. Through cooperation, we have established a test system and carried out a number of technical tests and tests, which provides strong support for Thailand’s exploration of satellite Internet applications, and will further help Thailand’s capacity building in the field of aerospace technology.”

The low orbit broadband communication experimental constellation being verified in Thailand is called “Little Spider Web” and consists of 8 low orbit communication satellites. Compared to high orbit satellites, low orbit satellites have advantages such as high bandwidth and low latency. Huang Heping, Director of Business Development of Galaxy Space International, said: “The application scenarios of LEO communication satellites are extensive and the future development is promising. This verification has not only driven the exchanges between the two sides in the field of satellite technology applications, but also promoted the deepening development of China Thailand space cooperation.” According to Huang Heping, Galaxy Space plans to deploy more LEO communication satellites and promote the LEO broadband satellite Internet technology in the world.
As a key step in the “going global” of LEO broadband satellite Internet technology, China’s commercial aerospace companies are using space technology to help the construction of the “the Belt and Road” spatial information corridor through practical exploration.
Xu Kun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, told Xinhua News Agency: “This test and verification of China’s low orbit broadband satellite Internet in Thailand is not only the first overseas application of China’s low orbit satellite Internet technology, but also provides a new opportunity for digital technology to enable the high-quality development of the” the Belt and Road “, which has an important demonstration role.”
Xu Kun said that, starting from the cultural background and development needs of different countries and regions, the use of satellite Internet technology can further improve the regional network construction capacity and scientific and technological innovation level, so as to better serve the local digital education, telemedicine, smart agriculture, smart oceans, emergency disaster reduction and other application scenarios, promote industrial development, and benefit people’s lives.
At present, cargo ships and cruise ships in the Gulf of Thailand still need to use traditional high orbit satellites to provide communication network services. Some mountainous areas in northern Thailand also lack network coverage, and Thailand is prone to floods during the rainy season, which also poses challenges to network communication infrastructure.
“The application of LEO broadband satellite Internet in Thailand is very broad, and we are also committed to learning and researching related technologies.” Panawi Pukayado, president of Mahanko University of Technology, said that when the LEO broadband satellite Internet is popularized in Thailand one day, it will greatly improve the telemedicine level that mountain residents can have and the distance education level of students in remote areas.

“The scientific research cooperation with Chinese commercial aerospace companies has not only trained teachers and students from Mahanko University of Technology, but also exposed us to the cutting-edge technology of low earth orbit communication satellites. We hope that one day, our Thai universities and research institutions can also develop low earth orbit communication satellites of the same level as China,” said Panawi.