Thailand’s Satellite Crime Surge: Police Demand Immediate Action
The increasing accessibility of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet connectivity is raising concerns in the Thai parliament. One member is urging the government to investigate its potential misuse by criminal organizations, particularly call center gangs operating along Thailand’s borders. These gangs may be leveraging satellite technology to circumvent government efforts to disrupt their internet access.
Takorn Tantasith, a member of the Thai Sang Thai Party and former secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, has called for a working group to investigate the ramifications of LEO satellite connectivity provided by companies like OneWeb and Starlink. This concern stems from the government’s ongoing, but seemingly less effective, struggle to curtail these criminal groups' access to ground-based telecom networks.
Mr. Tantasith highlighted the extensive reach of these satellite networks. OneWeb’s constellation of 648 satellites provides coverage encompassing Thailand and numerous other nations. Starlink’s approximately 6,000 satellites provide even broader coverage across North and South America, Europe, Australia, Japan, and several countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, including Thailand. This extensive coverage presents a significant challenge to authorities, allowing criminal groups in bordering nations to maintain connectivity even when traditional ground-based infrastructure is disrupted.
Starlink’s use of Ka and Ku frequency bands, facilitating signal reception via small, portable devices, further exacerbates the concern. This high-frequency technology allows for more discreet and mobile setups, potentially making it easier for criminal operations to remain undetected. The portability of the equipment renders traditional methods of tracking and disrupting internet access less effective. Essentially, by cutting off ground-based internet, authorities are inadvertently pushing these groups toward a more difficult-to-control alternative.
Mr. Tantasith commended the government’s efforts to combat these criminal activities—such as cutting off electricity and ground-based internet access in border regions and restricting the sale of oil—but stressed the urgency of addressing the emerging threat of satellite-based communication. He believes a dedicated working group is crucial to fully understand and mitigate the potential repercussions of readily available LEO satellite technology in the hands of criminal organizations.
This appeal follows a significant seizure last year by the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry. Authorities confiscated 58 sets of Starlink equipment intended for use by fraudsters to maintain high-speed internet access via satellite. DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong noted that previous efforts to curb online crime—such as dismantling unauthorized cell towers and cross-border cables—have only prompted these groups to adapt their tactics, highlighting a cat-and-mouse dynamic between law enforcement and technologically savvy criminals. This shift in criminal methodology underscores the need for proactive measures to stay ahead of these evolving threats, making Mr. Tantasith’s call for a government working group even more pertinent. The challenge is not just to react to the adoption of satellite technology by criminal entities, but to anticipate and prevent its misuse, ensuring that advancements in connectivity benefit society as a whole, and not just those who seek to exploit them.
