Vietnam affirms national sovereignty in space

Que Duong Satellite Control Station (Hanoi) has completed installation and is ready to receive satellite control.

After more than 4 years of launching VINASAT-1 satellite, up to now, VINASAT-2 satellite is ready to be launched. Although both satellites are not produced by Vietnam, but are manufactured by foreign partners and launched internationally, the satellite launch has demonstrated the determination and aspiration to conquer the pinnacle of technology of the Vietnamese people.

According to Mr. Phan Hoang Duc, Permanent Deputy General Director of Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) - the unit assigned by the Prime Minister to be the investor of VINASAT-2 satellite, the launch of VINASAT-2 satellite aims to achieve the country's strategic goal of enhancing telecommunications infrastructure capacity, meeting the demand for satellite use of the domestic and regional markets. In addition, Vietnam wants to effectively exploit the frequency resources and satellite orbit registered at the position of 131.8 degrees East, making the most of the satellite orbit resources allocated to Vietnam by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

VINASAT-2 satellite is manufactured on the A2100 frame platform with modern technology, with a design life of 15 years. With 24 36MHz transponders on the Ku band, VINASAT-2 is capable of covering Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and part of Myanmar. VINASAT-2's transmission capacity is equivalent to 13,000 voice/Internet/data channels or about 150 TV channels.

In this satellite launch, Vietnam continues to choose contractors Arianespace and Lockheed Martin for the VINASAT-2 satellite launch project.

VINASAT-2 has a total budget of about 260 - 280 million USD. Of which, VNPT's capital is 20%, the remaining 80% is borrowed capital from domestic banks and foreign loans.

After the satellite is successfully launched into orbit, it is expected that around June 2012, VINASAT-2 will be officially put into use. VNPT plans to exploit about 30% of the capacity of VINASAT-2 satellite. In addition, VNPT will expand the network of customers to exploit and use VINASAT-2 satellite in many different fields.

VINASAT-2 is also designed to serve effectively and practically the strategy of developing Vietnam's marine economy. It is expected that the ability to recover capital of this satellite is similar to VINASAT-1, about 10 years.
VINASAT-2 will bring great benefits together with VINASAT-1.

Remember, more than 4 years ago, at 5:17 am on April 19, 2008, it became a memorable milestone in the history of Vietnam's telecommunications when the VINASAT-1 satellite was successfully launched into the orbit of 132 degrees East. This was the first time Vietnam had a name on the world's space satellite map, owning its own telecommunications satellite.

When the first wave signals of VINASAT-1 satellite were broadcast across the entire territory of Vietnam and internationally on May 22, 2008, VINASAT-1 was no longer an "inanimate flying object" but contained within it a Vietnamese spirit carrying the pride of the Vietnamese people reaching out to the world.

Immediately after the successful launch of the VINASAT-1 satellite, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed: “This is an important event in the country’s development process. VINASAT-1 is an important communication and international cooperation bridge between Vietnam and countries in the region and the world, bringing Vietnam’s telecommunications to a new level.”

Besides affirming Vietnam's national sovereignty in space, VINASAT-1's operation has contributed to perfecting the country's information and communication infrastructure, improving network capacity and the quality of telecommunications, IT, radio and television services in Vietnam.

Mr. Ho Cong Lam, Deputy Director of the International Telecommunication Company (VTI), the unit assigned by VNPT to operate and exploit VINASAT-1, said that with coverage areas of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and part of Myanmar, Vietnam's first telecommunications satellite has been exploited very successfully.

After nearly 1 year of operation, 70% of the VINASAT-1 satellite capacity has been used, effectively meeting the needs of communication coverage and development of the radio and television sector, especially in remote, border and island areas.

Currently, up to 150 HD, SD standard TV channels, networks of the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defense, public telecommunications networks... use VINASAT-1 satellite.

Up to now, 90% of VINASAT-1 capacity has been used and is ensuring the provision of television, data transmission, transmission, voice and Internet services... In 2012 alone, revenue from VINASAT-1 was 250 billion VND, not including about 30% of the satellite's frequency band used by VNPT and its member units. With this revenue level, VINASAT-1 is expected to recover its capital after 10 years of operation while the minimum lifespan of the satellite is 15 years.

Mr. Bui Quoc Viet, Director of VNPT's Information and Public Relations Center, said: The quality of VINASAT-1's coverage area is highly appreciated by customers, many businesses have deployed new technology applications that allow saving frequency spectrum and improving the efficiency of satellite capacity usage.

Currently, the two satellite control stations Que Duong (Hanoi) and Binh Duong have completed preparations and are ready to receive and manage the VINASAT-2 satellite.

Together with VINASAT-1, VINASAT-2 will form a satellite system with the ability to reserve capacity and risks between satellites, contributing to enhancing safety, reliability and stability in the process of providing satellite capacity to customers. In addition, it will strengthen the security and safety of the national telecommunications network, while bringing common benefits to the community./.

According to VOV