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| “Ready to Ride the Wave from Satellites” |
The Prime Minister of the Government has officially approved the investment project to launch the Vinasat telecommunications satellite. After several delays, Vietnam has restarted the first Vinasat satellite project. The Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) announced that the satellite is expected to be launched in early 2006.
Coverage Across Vietnam and ASEAN
The total investment cost for the Vinasat projects is approximately 270 million USD. According to telecommunications experts, from a governmental perspective, this project holds significant economic, political, and social implications. The satellite is projected to serve various ministries and sectors, such as television, aviation, and oil and gas, depending on the needs of each ministry and unit. For instance, in the television sector, Vinasat will help Vietnam Television ensure 100% coverage across the country, even in remote areas where signal reception is currently inadequate, necessitating relay stations.
VNPT, assigned by the Prime Minister to plan the bidding process, will directly implement the project after receiving approval from relevant ministries and agencies. If completed, this project is expected to yield substantial economic benefits.
VNPT’s subsidiary, the International Telecommunications Company (VTI), promises to enjoy the most favorable conditions upon the project’s completion. According to Mr. Ho Cong Lam, Deputy Director of VTI, the demand for bandwidth is currently quite high for various operations, including ensuring communication in remote areas, building VSAT IP systems, and meeting bandwidth requirements for dedicated channels for domestic clients. These demands necessitate that VTI allocates a set of transponders to meet needs (each transponder corresponds to nearly 500 telephone channels). As VTI currently has to lease bandwidth from abroad, it incurs costs amounting to millions of USD annually just for leasing bandwidth.
Vinasat, characterized by its medium-sized geostationary satellite containing approximately 25 to 30 transponders, is expected to primarily serve domestic needs while providing coverage across Vietnam and several Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN). This marks the first time Vietnam will establish its own satellite, which will significantly meet the bandwidth requirements of domestic units and facilitate coordination and integration within ASEAN. Although the specific economic benefits from this project have yet to be calculated, Mr. Lam asserts that VTI will significantly reduce its bandwidth leasing costs from abroad once the Vinasat satellite becomes operational.
Remaining Tasks: Determining Coordinates and Bidding
Despite the considerable anticipated benefits, the project is currently facing several challenges. According to Mr. Doan Quang Hoan, Deputy Director of the Radio Frequency Bureau under the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, which is responsible for frequency coordination and completing legal procedures regarding Vietnam’s sovereignty over the orbital position at 132 degrees East, the biggest issue is negotiating the launch coordinates with the island nation of Tonga.
Previously, the launch of the Vinasat satellite was delayed multiple times due to a lack of consensus with two other countries regarding the determination of coordinates. Vietnam has the right to launch a satellite at 132 degrees East, but Tonga and another unnamed country also have rights to launch satellites at coordinates very close to Vietnam, namely 130 degrees East and 134 degrees East. However, although they have not agreed with Vietnam, these two countries have yet to launch any satellites. Mr. Hoan mentioned that the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications is determined to resolve the orbital negotiation issues by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, a leader from the Vinasat project preparation committee within VNPT stated that the satellite launch plan and other preparations depend heavily on the bidding process and the selection of technology and equipment. This leader also indicated that once the Radio Frequency Bureau confirms readiness for the official determination of the satellite’s coordinates, VNPT will complete the bidding process by the end of November. According to the plan, the Vinasat satellite to be launched in 2006 is expected to create a breakthrough for Vietnam’s telecommunications and broadcasting technology.
