MCOT renews contract with THAICOM For an additional 5 years

August 11, 20010

THAICOM Public Company Limited has signed an approximately five-year transponder leasing renewal Contract with MCOT Public Company Limited (“MCOT”), one of the largest national broadcasters in Thailand. The signing contract ceremony was held at the Channel 9 Broadcasting Station and Mr. Tanawat Wansom, President of MCOT Plc. and Dr. Nongluck Phinainitisart, President of THAICOM Plc. were the co-signees. This renewal contract will be valid until 2018, with the total value of the contract worth approximately US$22 million (or approximately 700 million baht). MCOT is leasing transponders on THAICOM 5 satellite including C-band global beam (36 MHz) and regional beam (11 MHz).

MCOT is also one of the longest running customers of THAICOM. It has been leasing transponders on THAICOM 2 satellite since 1997. Earlier this year, MCOT transferred its traffic on the THAICOM 2 satellite, which is expected to end its service life this year, to the THAICOM 5 satellite. It uses the C-band transponder for transmitting both television and radio channels nationwide to more than seven (7) million household viewers presently.

Mr.Tanawat Wansom, President of MCOT Plc, said “MCOT Public Service has leased transponders on Thaicom 2 since 1997, and has been continuing to use the service. The current contract will expire in 2013 while Thaicom 2 is expected to end of its service life in 2010, therefore Thaicom Plc. has provided Thaicom 5 transponders in order to provide continuous service to MCOT. MCOT is using the  Global Beam on Thaicom 5 and Regional Beam with 11 MHz for the receive path.  Thaicom-5’s Global Beam covers four continents with more than 120 countries. It is an appropriate platform to expand our viewer base for our Asean TV channel and satellite television businesses of MCOT. It will also help expand the customer base of Modern Nine TV and our seven radio stations and differentiate us from other satellite TV services in the market. "

Nongluck Phinainitisart, D.Eng., President of THAICOM Plc. said, “First of all we would like to thank MCOT for their continued trust in our service on the THAICOM Satellite platform. MCOT is one of our long-term customers on THAICOM and we look forward to continuing to serve this major broadcaster in Thailand as they look to expand their services. We foresee continued  

growth in the broadcast satellite sector in this region for many years to come with the deployment of more advance and efficient technologies such as MPEG-4, IPTV, HDTV and 3D TV.”

Presently, MCOT Plc. broadcasts three channels including Modern Nine TV, Asean TV and MCOT 1. MCOT has planned to expand many satellite TV channels in the near future. THAICOM Plc. is one of the leading satellite operators in the region and has more than 300 television channels on its platforms from broadcasters throughout Asia-Pacific, including MCOT of Thailand.