Thaicom Signs Thai Remote Education Deal

[Satellite Today 12-10-08] Thaicom signed a long-term capacity deal for a remote education project in Thailand, the company announced Dec. 9.
    The 10-year contract with the Distance Learning Education via Satellite Foundation of Thailand (DLF) renews an agreement for 75 percent of a Ku-band transponder on the Thaicom 5 satellite to broadcast DLTV channels. Established in 1996, DLTV broadcasts 15 educational channels to more than 17,000 schools across the country and to other viewers. These subscribers include schools mostly in the remote areas where there is a lack of teachers.
    “DLTV provides tremendous educational benefits and equal opportunities to Thai students nationwide and is significant in enhancing the development of Thai society, especially in the remote and far-reaching areas of the country,” Nongluck Phinitisart, president of Thaicom, said in a statement. “The lack of teachers is still a major challenge in our educational system, even in parts of the greater Bangkok area. Thaicom, as a vehicle to deliver DLTV channels to students and viewers throughout Thailand, is therefore very grateful to be able to support such beneficial projects.”