The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has approved National Telecom (NT) to launch Thailand’s first local satellite broadband internet service via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
The state-owned telco began offering the service this month through its partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb, a global LEO satellite operator, said NT president Col Sanpachai Huvanandana.
Col Sanpachai says LEO’s broadband service will be a significant driver of NT’s revenue in the future.
NT aims to generate US$30 million in revenue from this service by 2030, excluding the annual 200 million baht infrastructure rental fee paid by Eutelsat OneWeb to NT.
This approval follows an NBTC resolution in March that allowed NT to provide broadband services using Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO satellites for regional markets outside Thailand.
NT operates the LEO broadband service via its gateway in Ubon Ratchathani province, expected to serve over 50,000 users across Southeast Asia in its first year.
Together, NT and Eutelsat OneWeb have invested over US$25 million to build local infrastructure enabling these services in Thailand and the surrounding region.
Eutelsat OneWeb is part of the Eutelsat Group, a leader in satellite communications with a fleet of 35 geostationary and 634 LEO satellites worldwide.
Targeting regional enterprises needing connectivity in remote areas, NT sees satellite broadband as a major future revenue source.
According to tech research firm Gartner, global spending on LEO satellite communication services is forecast to reach US$14.8 billion by 2026, a 24.5% increase from 2025.
Gartner senior analyst Khurram Shahzad noted that LEO satellites primarily provide broadband to remote locations lacking traditional network access, but emerging consumer and business applications are driving rapid market growth.
With over 20 active LEO providers and more than 40,000 satellites expected soon, LEO technology is becoming a mainstream broadband solution offering reliable internet and IoT connectivity anywhere — including on airplanes, ships, and offshore platforms.
Key growth areas in 2026 will include remote consumer and business use (with expected spending increases of 40.2% and 36.4%), followed by IoT, maritime and aviation connectivity, and network resilience improvements.
Examples of new use cases include LEO-connected drones providing mobile coverage during disasters and US airlines offering free high-speed WiFi via LEO satellites.
Despite strong growth, the industry faces challenges like regulatory hurdles, capacity limits, roaming restrictions, and limited certification for some critical applications. Communications providers are advised to tailor strategies based on specific use cases.
