The satellite communications (satcom) industry has served as the bridge in facilitating wireless communications across Southeast Asia’s (SEA) risky topology, which is susceptible to several natural disasters. This makes connectivity through terrestrial networks such as fibre and microwave challenging. Acknowledging this, SEA has leveraged satellite technologies as a feasible, scalable and cost-effective solution to offer reliable connectivity for media broadcasting, relief and rescue operations during natural calamities, 5G communications systems, and defence and security, among other use cases. Over the years, SEA’s satcom landscape has seen several interesting developments, ranging from the hegemony of homegrown players to the entry of foreign ones, space diplomacy, and domestic headwinds and tailwinds. A look at the major developments in SEA’s satcom industry…
Current market landscape
In August 1976, when the Palapa A1 satellite began its services, Indonesia became a pioneer developing country, operating its indigenous satellite system. To stimulate the sector’s growth, the government undertook numerous initiatives during this period, including the establishment of the Universal Service Obligation Fund in 2000 to usher in affordable broadband services for all Indonesians. Since then, the country has made significant strides in bridging the digital divide. Currently, NTvsat, the Kacific Broadband Satellites Group, PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), Starlink, and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison are the key players dominating its satcom industry.
Malaysia entered the satcom space in January 1996 with the launch of the Malaysia East Asia Satellite (MEASAT), which was designed to provide state-of-the-art corporate and consumer communication facilities across Malaysia and the adjacent markets of Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. To create a conducive environment for the industry’s growth, the government enacted a series of legislations, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act, 1998; the Communications and Multimedia Act, 1998; and the Communications and Multimedia (Spectrum) Regulations, 2000. MEASAT has maintained its hegemony in the country’s satcom landscape. APT Satellite, Eutelsat and SES are some of the other players in this space.
Launched into a geostationary orbit in 1998, ST-1 was the first communications satellite of Singapore. It was a 50:50 joint venture between SingTel and Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom, and it provided direct-to-home broadcast, internet and telecommunications services across SEA until 2011. Various existing statutes and regulations designed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority govern Singapore’s telecommunications and broadcasting industry. These extend to the satcom industry in the form of regulations (such as the satellite communications station licence) and laws (Broadcasting Act, 1994). Singapore’s contemporary satcom industry is quite fragmented, with Skycom Satellite Singapore, Singtel, Communication Services Pte Limited, Whizpace Pte Limited, ST Engineering Satellite Systems and IEC Telecom Singapore being some noteworthy players.
Although Thailand decided to build its first satellite telecommunication station in 1967, the first major breakthrough came in 1991 with the establishment of the Shinawatra Satellite (Thaicom). Regulations such as the Telecommunications Business Act, 2001 have shaped its industry. Further, in August 2024, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission approved new criteria for allocating satellite orbital rights, enabling the selection of the winner based on a comparison of qualifications and proposals from interested parties. Currently, Thaicom, NT Satellite Solutions, NTvsat, Eutelsat OneWeb and True Corporation are some of the leading names in this space.
The Philippines became the first country in SEA to set up and operate an earth station when the Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation (Philcomsat) inaugurated its interim earth station in 1967. In an interesting turn of events, in March 2024, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 814 or the Satellite-based Technologies for Internet Connectivity Act, seeking to ensure universal access to the internet in the country. Philcomsat, Kacific and Globe Telecom are the key players in this space.
Recent developments
Indonesia’s new public-private satellite, SATRIA-1, was successfully connected to the internet after clearing a series of integration tests. SATRIA-1 is Asia’s largest satellite as of January 2024. It was made by Thales Alenia Space and launched via SpaceX with the aim to ensure high speed internet access across government and public institutions using very small aperture terminal (VSAT) connectivity. Another development in April 2024 was the Kacific Broadband Satellites Group’s partnership with Microsoft to provide high speed satellite internet access to 750 rural educational and healthcare institutions in Asia-Pacific over the next two years. High-powered Ka-band beams from the Kacific1 satellite will be deployed for this. In May 2024, Starlink planned to test internet services in Indonesia’s new capital city, Nusantara. Further, in July 2024, PSN signed an MoU with Elena Geo Tech Private Limited, an Indian navigation product manufacturer, to develop Indonesia’s satellite-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system. The PNT is expected to be deployed across sectors such as transportation services, air and sea navigation, and defence. Meanwhile, in October 2024, ST Engineering iDirect was selected for Phase II expansion of Indonesia’s Satria-1 satellite network. The second phase is aimed at connecting approximately 150,000 public service points, including 93,900 schools and 3,700 healthcare centres.
Meanwhile, in March 2024, Malaysian telco CelcomDigi signed a pact with satellite operator SES to harness the latter’s medium earth orbit and geosynchronous satellites to bring enterprise-grade satellite connectivity in Malaysia. In June 2024, APT Satellite, FPT International Telecom, Interlink Telecom, Neocom ISP, NTC Asia, SEAX Global and Telin formed an alliance called ASEAN Connect.One to enable reliable, scalable and efficient connectivity and data centre management solutions for users in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. More recently, in February 2025, Chinese constellation operator Spacesail struck a deal with Measat Singapore to advance satellite broadband services in Malaysia. Spacesail’s mega constellation (Qianfan), direct-to-device communications and satellite-based internet of things (IoT) solutions will be utilised under this agreement. In addition, the Malaysian government plans to make 5G available to at least 85 per cent of its rural population, while the remaining areas are to be served by broadband satellites in 2025.
In October 2024, the University of Surrey signed an MoU with the A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) for research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) 6G terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, as well as satellite communications technologies in Singapore. In November 2024, India launched seven satellites made in Singapore. On the industrial front, in February 2025, Singapore announced a regional satellite imaging project – Office for Space Technology and Industry – to support space research and its commercialisation. At the same time, an investment of $60 million was announced towards satellite technology development. Further, ST Engineering Satellite Systems is working with a start-up, Transcelestial, on prototyping Transcelestial’s laser communication terminals. This strategic collaboration is expected to enable a high speed, low-latency inter-satellite communications link. With this project, Singapore has the potential to leapfrog to next-generation space communications.
In January 2024, Thailand’s state-backed telco National Telecom concluded base station construction for satellite operator Eutelsat OneWeb, while their satellite network portal gateway service became operational in January 2025. In another key development, Thaicom and Hughes India decided to collaborate in August 2024 to enhance pan-Indian satellite broadband and IoT services. More recently, in February 2025, True Corporation debuted in the Thai satcom industry by partnering with China’s GalaxySpace to bolster Thailand’s digital telecom infrastructure and promote competitiveness in the sector. Among other things, this collaboration will explore possible satellite use cases and applications in Thailand.
A major development in the Philippines’ satcom industry was Intelsat’s entry in May 2024. With this, Intelsat became the first foreign geostationary earth orbit satellite operator licensed to sell products in the Philippines. Another first for the country was Globe transmitting text messages using standard phones via Globe and TM SIMs via partner Lynk Global’s low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in September 2024. Further, in February 2025, PointCast (a Kacific Group sub-brand) introduced an autonomous and economical satellite solution designed to support Ku-and Ka-band satellites across 75 cm to 1.2 metre dishes. Meanwhile, a resolution was adopted by the House of Representatives seeking provisional authority for Starlink Internet Services Philippines, Inc. to build, own and operate satellite ground stations, pending the grant of a legislative franchise.
Conclusion
SEA’s satcom industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 20 per cent between 2023 and 2028, leading to over 1.8 million subscribers by 2028. This will be driven by factors such as expanding 5G networks and rising demand for broadband connectivity.
An interesting trend gaining traction in the satcom space is the gravitation towards LEO satellites. For example, the Malaysian government is reportedly working on a new pilot project leveraging LEO satellite technology to provide direct telecommunications services to devices without relying on traditional towers. Meanwhile, several emerging technologies are shaping the SEA satcom landscape. For instance, Singaporean start-up SpeQtra is reportedly working on a communications satellite embedded with quantum cryptography technology. The satellite is slated for launch this year and is expected to enable the secure transfer of confidential information from one country to another. Further, some analysts expect AI to be deployed for the flexible management of satellite network resources going forward.
That said, the industry faces several challenges that hinder its growth. First, manufacturing, launching and maintaining satellites entails significant capital expenditure. For instance, the launch of MEASAT-3 cost almost RM 1 billion. Second, some regions lack the necessary infrastructure needed to support satellite launches. For instance, Indonesia lacks a fully developed spaceport, although it envisions building one to reduce dependence on foreign satellite launches. Third, some countries have limited technical expertise to support this industry. Lastly, there is a need to upgrade regulations to make it easier for both home-grown and international players to flourish.
Once these teething troubles are overcome, SEA can become a global satcom leader.
Nikhaar Gogna
