(The Nation via NewsEdge) Shin Satellite (ShinSat) is upbeat about its prospects for growth, based on the expectation it can launch the iPSTAR broadband satellite's gateway in several markets by early next year despite suffering heavy third-quarter losses.
The firm's marketing chief Patompob Suwansiri said that his company was expected to launch a third gateway in China within a month.
It has already completed building three gateways in China, which will enable it to start offering broadband in the Asian giant. He said the company was required to open all three gateways in China before it can start the service, and revenues from China will be realised early next year.
The company is holding talks with the Indian government for the right to provide the service in the subcontinent.
ShinSat estimates China and India will account for 25% and 15%, respectively, of iPSTAR's bandwidth capacity of 45Gbps.
In Japan, iPSTAR will be aimed at linking with the telecom network.
'We're upbeat about the prospects for growth,' said company CFO Tanadit Charoenchan.
iPSTAR now provides broadband in Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand.
Tanadit said ShinSat had yet to work out a serious plan to develop the Thaicom 6 satellite, which would depend on when the newly launched Thaicom 5.
Currently, ShinSat operates Thaicom 1 and 2, which will expire in the next few years, iPSTAR and Thaicom 5. It de-orbited Thaicom 3 last month, due to a power-supply glitch, and customers were transferred to Thaicom 5.
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