[Satellite Today 02-23-09] Thaicom increased its revenues in 2008 by 9 percent, fuelled by a strong performance in its satellite-related businesses, the company announced Feb. 20.
    Thaicom reported total revenues of 7 billion baht ($200 million) in 2008, however, the company had a net loss for the year of 713 million baht ($20.2 million).
    The satellite side of the business performed strongly, generating revenues of 4.6 billion baht ($130 million) in 2008, of which Ipstar contributed 2.3 billion baht ($60 million), an increase of 515 million baht ($14.6 million), or 29.2 percent from 2007. Revenues from transponder leasing services of Thaicom 1A, 2 and 5 were 2.3 billion baht ($70 million), an increase of 15.2 percent from 2007. This was due to increasing the number of satellite channels carried from 243 in 2007 to 264 in 2008.
    Total sales of Ipstar user terminals increased 50.7 percent, while the revenues from Ipstar bandwidth increased 37.8 percent from 2007.