~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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Vietnam to build second satellite

HONG KONG - Satnews Daily - Vietnam has announced its intent to build its second satellite, VinaSat-2, while setting March 29, 2008 as the launch date for its first satellite, VinaSat-1. Nguyen Huu Khanh, director of the Vietnam Telecom International Company (VTI), which will operate VinaSat-1, said Vietnam would launch VinaSat-2 after the successful launch of VinaSat-1.

Vietnam reports that 30 percent of the hardware for VinaSat-1 had been manufactured, and that the remaining 70 percent would be completed before January 2008. The construction of two tracking and telemetry stations, one in Ha Tay province and the other in Binh Duong province, are to be completed by June 30, 2008. VinaSat-1 will provide telecom services to remote and isolated areas of Vietnam. VinaSat-1, the first satellite to be bought by Vietnam, is being manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. VinaSat-1, a C-/Ku-band hybrid satellite, is expected to have a minimum service life of 15 years.

Telesat, a leading Canadian satellite operator, has signed a contract to provide engineering consulting services to the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) in support of VinaSat-1. Under the terms of the agreement, Telesat will provide technical oversight of the design, integration, test, launch and acceptance of VinaSat-1, as well as technical training. Speaking during the contract signing in Ottawa, Vu Tuan Hung, CEO and president of VNPT, said that with the combination of Telesat's depth of technical expertise and Lockheed Martin's state of the art technology, they have a great and dedicated team to turn Vietnam's first satellite project into a success.

VNPT is tasked with the exploration, consultation, design, installation and maintenance of telecommunications and information technology. VNPT has organized multiple major business ventures in the posts, information technology and telecommunications sectors.

Satnews Daily - May 23, 2007.