Vietnam’s first satellite still going strong one year after launching

How are the operations of Vinasat-1 and its related equipment going? Have there been any complications in the last year?

Till now, the Viet Nam Telecommunications International Company under the Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications (VNPT) have successfully managed to operate the satellite, assuring we meet demand at home and abroad. The whole system now works and there are no problems.

In fact, the company already had 18 years of experience in satellite management, but only officially began managing Vinasat-1 last year. To make best use of the satellite, the construction of initial infrastructures, in my opinion, plays an important role. Since 2006, the company have prepared human resources by establishing a research team on the operation and exploitation of satellite Vinasat-1.

Currently, the company’s staff are in charge of basic work and only need to consult experts under some special circumstances.

Technician staff at Chinese Koueiyang satellite station, for example, are mostly young, enthusiastic, qualified and have the chance to work with skillful foreign experts in terms of satellite manufacturing and control. They are in charge of managing the satellite while it is in orbit and the safe operation of equipment systems to supply the best services for customers.

In the near future, we believe that we can handle the whole process without relying on the advice of foreign experts.

How effective is Vinasat-1? What plans are in store for the satellite?

How to improve the efficiency of satellite exploitation is also an important matter. Marketing staff at Vinasat are very dynamic in approaching and negotiating with customers and skillful in managing quality service. According to the company, more than 70 per cent of satellite capacity and 12 frequency bands were chosen and used by both international and domestic customers. As planned, it should take about two years to exploit the satellite to its full capacity, but the current result shows that we will achieve the target by the end of this year. This is an unexpected result.

VNPT will focus on the implementation of projects on flood and storm prevention in this year, as set by the Ministry of Information and Communication. We will also set up strategies to provide our service to remote areas, especially border and island regions.

As a matter of fact, international customers have rated Vinasat-1 among the best in satellite service in the region. Domestic television companies, including VTC, HTV, VTV and broadcasting stations VOV and VOH have become regular customers of our service and evaluated its high quality.

As a major telecommunications group, we will continue confirming our role in satellite management, build more facilities and develop the service in upcoming years. It’s only been a year.

What do you think about Vinasat-1’s impact on VNPT’s manufacturing and trading activities and that of media sector nationwide?

We all know that the successful launch of the satellite and its operation management not only marks an important turning-point for the VNPT but is also important for the nation. Vinasat-1 proclaims the country’s sovereignty in satellite orbital resources, modernises the national information system and meets domestic demand. It also helps people in remote areas get access to information.

Previously, we used to rent a Thai satellite but it failed to give and receive signals in coastal provinces of Khanh Hoa and Quang Ninh and the Spratly archipelagos. Vinasat-1 has network coverage for the whole country, from the north to the south and even the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos and neighbouring countries, including Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. The trial operation shows that the satellite signals are very clear.

Also, Vinasat-1 secures transformation of internet and data signals. In fact, the transformation via satellite is really significant for areas that do not have many other facilities.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News