Vietnam Launches First Telecommunications Satellite Into Space
April 21st, 2008 | by admin |
It is being reported that the country of Vietnam has taken a huge step by launching their first telecommunications satellite into space that will help bring internet and television to rural residents of the country.
It launched from the European spaceport in French Guriana on the back of an Ariane 5 rocket.
The satellite is part of an ongoing mission to improve the country’s access to TV and telephony services for Vietnam’s rural population.
The 2,600kg VINASAT-1 was manufactured for Vietnam’s Post & Telecommunications Group (VNPT) by US manufacturer Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems.
VNPT’s director, Long Tran Pham, told Reuters: “More than 70% of our country consists of forests and mountains so it is very important to have satellites
to deliver telecommunications to populations living in these zones.
“People already receive television by other satellites that we lease, but now we have our own satellite.”
According to Vietnam’s minister of Information and Communication Doan Hop Le the telecommunications satellite will have the capability to transmit “10,000 voice, Internet and data channels.”
He stated “Vinasat-1 will help Vietnam bring telecommunications, Internet and television services to all isolated, mountainous and island areas where other means of transmission is not feasible.”
