Space Industry Development: Opportunities and Challenging in Thailand

Abstract

Satellites are technology developed to be able to orbit in space utilizing Earth’s gravity. Therefore, Satellite technologies are suitable for long- distance communications and are used for various activities in many fields such as telecommunications, geological surveys, the military, research, agricultural planning, maps and urban planning, etc. Satellite technology is one of the most important technologies for the stability as well as advancement of the telecommunication infrastructure of a country. Technological advancement has caused satellite businesses to evolve rapidly as well as create a variety of new business opportunities. Nowadays, the space industry has become a point of interest for many sectors. In terms of communication, this has allowed us to access the internet in areas where it previously didn’t exist. There are many studies which discuss the barriers to connectivity across the world. One reason for this lies in a lack of economic viability when it comes to providing internet services in the support of terrestrial infrastructure. A possible solution to this problem is the development of air and space internet access using balloons, drones, or even satellites. However, many wonder what possible challenges would arise along with the possible legal limitations. Suffice it to say, there might be multiple technical and even operational limitations such as the possibility of property damage or even problems related to orbit. According to studies from various research institutes around the world the consensus is that the possibility of internet access all over the world would indeed greatly benefit humanity as well as bring various economic and social benefits. In this paper, we will discuss the current state of things. We will also discuss the future of space industries around the world including in Thailand. We will then study the possibility of providing space-based internet services and the various aspects of that possibility. We will take a look at expert interviews, literature reviews, as well as study various articles from both domestic and international space and technology ventures that experienced development issues.