Vietnam is preparing to launch a new satellite

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung directed the Radio Frequency Department and VNPT to soon submit a plan to launch a new satellite to replace the expired VINASAT-1 satellite.

The new satellite will be launched to replace VINASAT-1

Speaking at the State management conference for the first quarter of 2024 with management objects being businesses, societies, associations and press agencies, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung requested the Radio Frequency Department to Electricity and VNPT need to soon submit a plan to launch a new satellite to replace the expired VINASAT-1 satellite.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also affirmed: 'Launching satellites to ensure national security, VNPT will implement this project. The Ministry of Information and Communications will support to create conditions for VNPT to overcome difficulties when launching new satellites.

Talking to reporters, a representative of the Radio Frequency Department said that the new satellite launched to replace the expired VINASAT-1 satellite will reuse the old frequency band. Therefore, there is no need to plan frequencies for new satellites that will be launched here.

Previously, on April 19, 2008, VINASAT-1 was successfully launched into orbit, affirming Vietnam's satellite space sovereignty. The satellite was manufactured by Lockheed Martin (USA) and launched into orbit by an Ariane-5 rocket (France). Orbital position is 1320E (132 degrees east).

The satellite weighs 2.8 tons and has an operating life of 15 years. The operating frequency band is extended C band and Ku band with large coverage areas including Vietnam, Southeast Asia, East China, India, North Korea, Japan, Australia and Hawaii.

VINASAT-1 has a total investment value of approximately 300 million USD and expires in 2023. Thus, up to this point, the VINASAT-1 satellite has expired for nearly 1 year. At that time, VNPT planned to recover capital after 10 years.

Vietnam plans to launch a new satellite to replace the expired VINASAT-1.

Next, on May 16, 2012, satellite VINASAT-2 was launched into orbit. Investment capital for VINASAT-2 is approximately 260 million USD, invested and managed by VNPT. VINASAT-2 satellite has greater capacity, greater weight, more transponders, and therefore more bandwidth capacity.

If VINASAT-1 is designed with 20 active transponders, including 8 extended C-band sets, 12 Ku-band sets, with a bandwidth of 36MHz/1 set, 8 backup transponders (4 sets Ku band, 4 extended C band sets), VINASAT-2 is more "spectacular" , with 30 Ku band transponders (24 commercial operators and 6 backup sets).

Thus, it can be seen that VINASAT-2 has 4 more transponders than VINASAT-1, equivalent to 20% of VINASAT-1's capacity. While VINASAT-1 has Ku band coverage in: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and part of Myanmar, VINASAT-2 expands its coverage area with coverage of parts of Malaysia and Myanmar. VINASAT-2 satellite can have a lifespan of up to 21.3 years.

VINASAT-1 can still operate for about 5 more years

A frequency expert shared with PV that even though the VINASAT-1 satellite has expired according to its design, this satellite can still operate for another 5 years. However, preparing for a new satellite is an early issue because we cannot be sure when this satellite will stop operating.

"Normally, when bidding to buy satellite capacity, customers will require the satellite to have about 30% of its remaining usage time according to the design commitment. Therefore, this time will be difficult for VNPT - the unit is operating VINASAT-1 and VINASAT-2, when bidding for satellite transmission services,' the expert said.

After successfully launching two satellites VINASAT-1 and VINASAT-2, Vietnam has become the 7th country in the ASEAN region to have a position and sovereignty in satellite orbit.

The launch of the VINASAT satellite is particularly important in completing Vietnam's telecommunications system , when previously there was radio information, wired information, ground information, sea surface information and now there is additional telecommunications satellites. Satellite connection has a proactive effect in connecting to remote areas, border areas, and islands that our country could not previously achieve with terrestrial information systems.

This satellite will help Vietnam be proactive in ensuring national security and defense, especially tasks in border areas, islands and at sea.

Currently, the satellite market is experiencing fierce price competition among operators in the region.