Bringing Satellite Technology onto Campus
Satellite communications can feel like technology that exists far away from university life.
At MAHANAKORN, it is being tested directly on campus.
MAHANAKORN has partnered with GalaxySpace, a satellite communications technology company from China, to research and test an integrated broadband communication system connecting Low-Earth Orbit satellites with ground-based communication infrastructure.
The collaboration includes a ground station known as Mini-Spider, installed as part of the university’s Space Technology Research Center.
According to the project announcement, it became the first university-based ground station in Thailand to experiment with satellite communications using the high-frequency Q/V band.
How Satellite Internet Reaches the Ground
A satellite network needs much more than satellites in orbit.
Information must travel between space and infrastructure on Earth.
The GalaxySpace system being tested at MAHANAKORN includes two important parts:
- a gateway station connecting terrestrial internet networks with broadband satellites
- user terminals that allow people and devices to connect with the satellite network
User terminals can be installed in fixed locations or mounted on vehicles, while connected devices can access the network through technologies such as LAN or Wi-Fi.
For engineering students, this creates a useful way to understand satellite communications as a complete system rather than simply something happening in orbit.
Electronics, antennas, radio-frequency engineering, networking, software and ground infrastructure all have to work together.
Testing Low-Earth Orbit Communications in Thailand
The partnership is not limited to installing equipment.
Researchers and engineers from MAHANAKORN and GalaxySpace are using the infrastructure to study, experiment with and evaluate Low-Earth Orbit satellite technologies.
Initial testing began in March 2024.
According to MAHANAKORN, the project successfully demonstrated internet connectivity through the satellite system and tested Thai internet traffic through GalaxySpace’s Low-Earth Orbit satellite network.
The project also operates within a regulatory sandbox supported by Thailand’s telecommunications regulator, allowing research and testing of Q/V-band satellite technology under controlled conditions.
That matters because new communication technologies need to be understood not only theoretically, but also through real-world testing involving signal performance, equipment, spectrum and network reliability.
Why Low-Earth Orbit Satellites Matter
Low-Earth Orbit satellite networks are attracting attention because they can expand connectivity to places where traditional infrastructure may be difficult to build.
Potential applications extend beyond ordinary internet access.
Satellite connectivity can support areas such as:
- remote communities
- agriculture
- transportation
- communications infrastructure
- environmental monitoring
- disaster response
- connected devices and future digital services
The technology therefore sits at the intersection of space engineering and everyday digital infrastructure.
A satellite may orbit hundreds of kilometres above Earth, but the services it enables can eventually affect people, businesses and communities on the ground.
From Research Infrastructure to Student Experience
One of the most important parts of the collaboration is the opportunity to connect research infrastructure with education.
MAHANAKORN states that knowledge gained from the GalaxySpace project can contribute to teaching, curriculum development and practical learning opportunities for students and faculty working in space-related technology.
Instead of learning satellite communications only through diagrams or simulations, students can study an environment where real equipment, real signals and real engineering challenges are being tested.
That is especially relevant as the space industry expands beyond traditional government missions into communications, Earth observation, data services and commercial technology.
For students entering engineering today, the space economy could become much closer to their future careers than it first appears.
Where Could You Take It Next?
Students interested in satellites, communications and intelligent technology can begin building relevant foundations through:
Communication & Electronics Engineering
Develop knowledge in electronics, communication systems and signal technologies directly connected with satellite communications, wireless networks and advanced electronic systems.
Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →
Computer & AI Engineering
Build foundations in computing, artificial intelligence and data for connected systems, network technologies and applications built around satellite information.
Explore Computer & AI Engineering →
Mechanical Engineering
Explore engineering design, mechanics and physical systems that contribute to complex technologies used across aerospace and advanced engineering industries.
Explore Mechanical Engineering →
Master of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Take communication and electronic engineering further through advanced technical study and research.
Explore Master of Electrical & Electronics Engineering →
Postgraduate Research
Explore opportunities to continue into advanced engineering and technology research.
Explore Postgraduate Research →
Space technology becomes much easier to understand when the infrastructure connecting Earth and orbit is right there on campus.