Thaicom-4 (IPSTAR) is a multiple spot beam bent-pipe satellite without on-board regenerative payload. Its combination of innovative ground and space technologies permit the delivery of cost-effective broadband for any location lacking access to terrestrial infrastructures and instant coverage in blind spot areas.

The IPSTAR broadband satellite system is composed of a gateway earth station communicating over the satellite to provide broadband packet-switched communications to a large number of user terminals with network star configuration.

IPSTAR is the first high throughput satellite launched. Traditional satellite technology utilizes a broad single beam to cover entire continents and regions. With the introduction of multiple, narrowly focused spot beams and frequency reuse, IPSTAR is capable of maximizing the available frequency for transmissions. Thus, improving efficiencies and increasing bandwidth by a factor of twenty compared to traditional Ku-band satellites.

Despite the higher costs associated with spot beam technology, the overall cost per circuit is considerably lower in comparison to shaped beam technology.