On 26 November 2025, Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, stated that after the Cabinet approved the declaration of a state of emergency and assigned Air Chief Marshal Ukrit Boontanon, the Supreme Commander, as the director of the Forward Emergency Flood Response Operations Center, the ministry needed to establish new communication channels that do not rely on terrestrial infrastructure, which has been severely damaged by flooding.
Therefore, discussions were held with SpaceX to bring in Starlink satellite internet as a backup network in high-risk zones.
Following consultations with the NBTC, it was concluded that SpaceX is ready to provide equipment for emergency use, while the NBTC will expedite special import permits with usage limited to officially declared emergency areas.
Chaichanok explained that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul instructed authorities to restore communications as quickly as possible so government agencies and rescue teams can coordinate effectively and evacuate affected residents.
People in Hat Yai District still require assistance, but communication outages remain a problem. Government agencies therefore contacted SpaceX and worked with the NBTC to deploy Starlink exclusively for emergency operations in Songkhla Province under the Emergency Decree. Installation points will be designated by the Forward Emergency Flood Response Operations Center.