Chinese satellite internet firm GalaxySpace and True Corporation, Thailand's leading telecom operator, signed a memorandum of understanding on Feb. 10, 2025, to deepen cooperation in satellite internet.

The two companies will collaborate in areas that include low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication technology, space-ground integrated network solutions, and direct-to-handset satellite communication technology. They will jointly advance research and development, explore new satellite applications, and build digital infrastructure.

Xu Ming, CEO of GalaxySpace (left), and Manat Manavutiveth, CEO of True Corporation, sign a memorandum of understanding in Thailand on Feb. 10, 2025. [Photo courtesy of GalaxySpace]

True Corp CEO Manat Manavutiveth said he has high expectations for the collaboration.

"LEO satellite internet represents a significant leap forward in global communications, which will drive transformative changes in Thailand and the world's socioeconomic landscape," he said.

He added that True Corp is committed to upgrading Thailand's digital telecommunications infrastructure. Manavutiveth said the partnership will enhance the coverage and robustness of its communication network, providing communication services to Thai businesses and benefiting the public.

Xu Ming, CEO of GalaxySpace, expressed confidence in the collaboration, noting Thailand's business environment and market potential and describing True Corp as an ideal partner. 

He added that the cooperation would expand the applications of satellite internet in Thailand and the ASEAN region in the maritime, agriculture, education and connected vehicle sectors.

Xu said commercial aerospace is driving global economic development through innovation, noting that GalaxySpace would work with its Thai partners to boost communication in ASEAN and globally.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. The collaboration is an example of China's commercial aerospace sector expanding globally to support the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative Space Information Corridor. The program aims to provide space information service capabilities to countries along the Belt and Road.

GalaxySpace, which previously launched China's first LEO broadband test constellation (nicknamed "little spider web"), became the first Chinese firm to deploy LEO broadband satellite internet overseas, completing network testing in Thailand in 2024. This set the stage for the current cooperation.

In recent years, Chinese commercial aerospace firms have steadily expanded their presence in international markets. For instance, Beijing-based rocket manufacturer CAS Space, a subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, launched Oman's first intelligent remote sensing satellite on Nov. 11, 2024. The satellite was sent into orbit aboard a Lijian-1 Y5 carrier rocket as part of a mission that deployed 15 satellites.

The launch marked the first time a Chinese commercial aerospace company provided launch services to an international client. The Omani satellite is equipped with AI computing payloads and an intelligent operating system, supporting applications such as land surveys and disaster monitoring.

From confirmation to launch, the entire process took less than six months, demonstrating the capabilities of Chinese commercial rockets. The launch was also a notable example of aerospace cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Lijian-1 Y5 carrier rocket lifts off from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone in Jiuquan city, northwest China's Gansu province, Nov. 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]