Thaicom 8. Photo: Orbital ATK

[Via Satellite 08-05-2016] Thaicom has gained its first customer for the recently launched Thaicom 8 satellite. IPM is using Ku-band capacity for Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast services for 4 million satellite dishes. The Thai TV company intends to use the capacity to support the near term launch of High Definition (HD) channels as well.

Orbital ATK manufactured the Thaicom 8 satellite, which began offering services using of 24 Ku-band transponders covering Thailand, South Asia, and Africa in July. The satellite launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on May 27, and is collocated with Thaicom 5 and Thaicom 6 at 78.5 degrees east longitude.