The country’s first telecommunication satellite, Vinasat-1, came on line on May 22, according to the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group.

The satellite successfully received and transmitted standard signals with the two telecommunications centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City , confirming that it is functioning normally according to the International Telecommunications Union’s standards.

Vietnamese satellite operators cross-checked the quality of transmission signals with technicians at Lockheed Martin, the satellite’s manufacturer, in the US , and the result was positive.

Upon the launch of Vietnam ’s satellite, the ITU requested that the statellite must be put into operation before May 23.

The 200 million USD Vinasat-1 will provide more than 200 digital television channels and tens of thousands of Internet data transmission and telephone channels.

The satellite’s footprint is expected to cover Vietnam , Laos , East Asia , India and Austria .

It prospective life span is 15 years.