Vietnam's first satellite, slated for being launched in French Guyana in South America, is scheduled to go into orbit on April 10, a week later than planned, local newspaper Vietnam News reported Thursday.
The telecommunications satellite named Vinasat, built by U.S. firm Lockheed Martin for over 200 million U.S. dollars for almost two years, has 20 transceivers, capable of serving 200 digital television channels or tens of thousands of phone channels or high-speed Internet connection. It will serve Southeast and Northeast Asia for 15-22 years.
The launch of Vietnam's first satellite is also of great significance to national security because it will improve the stability and security of the country's information network, said the Vinasat project director Hoang Minh Thong.
With its own satellite, Vietnam will not have to spend some 15 million dollars annually renting foreign satellites, he said, noting that in the age of emerging Internet-based telecommunications, satellites do not provide as much economic benefits as previously.
The project's investor is the state-owned Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group.
Source: Xinhua
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