The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications was pushing to complete the negotiations for the 132 degree East orbital slot by the end of this year, Tuoi Tre said.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Corporation (VNPT) will assume responsibility for manufacturing and launching the satellite.

After an orbit is agreed, the Government will consider VNPT’s construction and launch plans in order to prepare for auction.

The US$300 million undertaking, which received the Prime Minister’s approval on Wednesday, also comprises several smaller projects, including Vietnam Television’s plans for a satellite ground station.

The geo-stationary satellite Vinasat will be of average size, weighing 2,200kg and including 25-30 transponders, each of which corresponds to nearly 500 telephone circuits or four to six television channels, Tuoi Tre said.

Vinasat could last 15 years or more and save Vietnam some US$10 million each year from leasing telecoms channels of foreign satellites such as ASIASAT, THAICOM, and MIASAT, experts said.

The satellite will cover Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries as well as parts of China and Japan.

(Source: Tuoi Tre – Compiled by The Vinh)