PM Nguyen Tan Dung witnessed the launching of the Vietnam’s second satellite, VINASAT-2 from the VNPT headquarters in Hanoi early this morning.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung witnessed the launching of the Vietnam’s second satellite, VINASAT-2 from the VNPT headquarters in Hanoi early this morning.

The VINASAT 2 satellite, invested by VNPT, roared off the launching pad at 22.13 GMT on May 15 from Kourou (French Guyana, South America). It is Vietnam’s second Ariane 5 rocket launch since 2008 to carry a communications satellite into orbit. 

The Government chief said that the Party and State are paying special attention to VINASAT-1 VINASAT-2 projects which are of great significance for socio-economic development.

The Government chief asked the VNPT and the Ministry of Information and Communications to early put the second satellite into operation to perfect the country’s information and communication infrastructure and quality.

The launching of VINASAT-2 marked an important step in a bid convert Vietnam into a power in information and communication technology, he said.

The satellite will provide fixed satellite service to Vietnam and neighboring countries.

With the total investment of US$260-280 million, the satellite features 24 Ku frequency band providing uplink and downlink coverage and also has a design life of 15 years.

Mr. Ho Cong Lam, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Telecom International Corporation (VTI), a subsidiary of VNPT reported that VTI has already taken command of the technology to manage and exploit the satellite. 

So far, the Que Duong and Binh Duong Satellite Control Stations are ready to receive and manage VINASAT- 2./.