{
  "id": 18240785,
  "title": "Thaicom 4 satellite to be deorbited by Nov 8",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/thaicom-4-satellite-to-be-deorbited-by-nov-8",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-05T00:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Bangkok Post Business",
    "slug": "bangkok-post-business",
    "url": "https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3348906/thaicom-4-satellite-to-be-deorbited-by-nov-8"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Thai communications satellite Thaicom 4, also known as iPSTAR, is set to be deorbited on November 8, according to a proposal by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. The satellite's engineering lifespan has been extended twice, and the migration of existing customers to other satellites has been completed. The proposal will be discussed at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's meeting on Thursday, with the chairman absent. The migration of Thaicom 4 service to other satellites has already been carried out, and the deorbit process requires approval from the NBTC. Thaicom 4 and Thaicom 6 satellites were previously operated by Gulf Space Technology, which transferred ownership to the DES Ministry and assigned National Telecom to operate them. The satellite's lease was extended by National Telecom, who hired Thaicom to manage it. Thaicom proposed that the extension be until the end of the year to accommodate the delayed launch of the company's successor satellite, Thaicom 9. In the meantime, Thaicom leased capacity on foreign satellites to ensure uninterrupted service for customers, particularly in India.",
  "summary": "The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) has proposed deorbiting the broadband satellite Thaicom 4, known as iPSTAR, by Nov 8 after the satellite's engineering lifespan was extended two times.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}