Nxtdigital and Thaicom ink binding MoU for broadband-over-satellite and related services

Nxtdigital Limited (NDL), the media vertical of the Hinduja Group and Thaicom Public Company Limited, Thailand (Thaicom), today made a joint announcement of having signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),  to form a strategic partnership to enter the Broadband-over-satellite (BoS) market and related services in India.

The MOU envisages a partnership that includes deployment of BoS systems on India-focused capacity, which could be enhanced to provide future additional capacity on a state-of-art-software-defined high throughput satellite; argumentative of the existing IPSTAR-1, the first satellite broadband in the world and operational over India since several years.

Partnership could also be in OneOTT Intertainment Limited (OIL), the broadband subsidiary of NDL and India's forth largest private ISP, with over 1 million customers and a presence in 150+ cities and towns.

Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Director and Chief Executive Officer at Thaicom Public Company Limited said: “ We are delighted to ink this MoU with Nxtdigital. With our global satellite experience spanning over 3 decades and Nxtdigital's distribution expertise, vast footprint and broadband penetration, we believe that together we are best suited to delivering broadband-over-satellite and related services to India, not just at a high level of quality of service but also  cost-effectively.

Thaicom and NDL will look to provide BoS services immediately on IPSTAR-1, focusing mainly on the rural footprint of India, comprising 60% of NDL's customers through the only HITS (Headend-In-The-Sky) platform in India. The BoS will focus on providing cost-effective and quality broadband and will help in tremendous boost to delivering education, entertainment, information, health and other services to these markets.

Vynsley Fernandes, Managing Director and CEO at Nxtdigital Limited said: “We have always taken our commitment to the Government’s digital India mission very seriously. With HITS, we now cover over 4,500 pin codes across India with a significant presence in not just rural India but also areas where terrain poses challenges to connectivity. Through this engagement with Thaicom, a global leader in satellite technology, we will look to facilitate digital inclusion across education, healthcare, information & entertainment - by extending satellite-based broadband connectivity and services to our customers there and also to under-served and other poorly connected markets.”

Both companies have also agreed to set up a Centre for Excellence to develop new satellite and related digital based technologies through artificial intelligence and analytics, leveraging deep-tech research and development that both companies are known for.