Vietnam's first satellite launches services

The launch followed Vinasat-1 manufacturer Lockheed Martin of the US formally handing over the satellite to the Vietnamese operator, the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) on May 29, 2008.

Lockheed Martin technicians will provide assistance to Vietnamese technicians to operate Vinasat-1 for at least another six months. Vinasat-1 went on line on May 22, 2008, successfully receiving and transmitting standard signals with ITC 1 (International Telecommunications Center 1, one of four centers under Vietnam Telecommunications International – VTI) in Hanoi and ITC 2 in Hochiminh City

The US$200 million VINASAT-1 will provide more than 200 digital television channels and tens of thousands of Internet data transmission and telephone channels via the two ground satellite control centers, one in northern - Ha Tay province and one in southern - Binh Duong province. The satellite's range is expected to cover Vietnam, Laos, East Asia, India and Austria with a prospective life span of 15 years.

VNPT said 16 clients have registered to use Vinasat-1 services, including Hochiminh City Television and the Vietnam Multimedia Corporation (VTC), which plan to each use 10 percent of VINASAT-1 capacity.

According to the VTI, an auxiliary of the VNPT, all local clients can complete procedures for their use of VINASAT-1 services within this year.

VTI said VINASAT-1 should be operating at full capacity within three years.