21 February 2025
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry is reportedly planning to crack down on scammers using LEO satellite services like Starlink to provide connectivity for their operations.
According to Bangkok Post, the ministry has been trying to shut down call centre gangs along the Thai border by cutting off their access to terrestrial internet connectivity.
However, the gangs have responded by turning to LEO satellite services like Starlink to get online. DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong said that scammers have been smuggling LEO satellite kits across the border into Thailand. Late last year, the ministry and joint parties seized many sets of Starlink satellite equipment being used for fraud.
Prasert said he would urge the ministry to put illegal LEO satellite usage high on its overall agenda to combat online fraud. Other measures taken by DES include blocking social media, illegal websites and gambling websites, seizure and interception of money transfers, suspending mule SIMs linked to mobile banking and shutting down illegal telecoms towers.
Starlink is not legally available in Thailand, as it has yet to be licenced by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
However, Eutelsat OneWeb has been approved to launch services in Thailand via its partnership with state-owned telco National Telecom.
