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Via Satellite: How important is satellite technology in terms of bring advanced communications services to rural areas in the country?Vinh: We can say that satellite technology is necessary to complete the communications infrastructure in many countries as well as Vietnam. Two-thirds of our population live in the rural areas. With the VinaSat-1 satellite, we have enhanced the network capacity, quality of telecoms and IP services, broadcasting, and television services. We now have a stable transmission capacity. Only 57 percent of our population had access to telephone services. With VinaSat-1 that figure is significantly increased.
We can also offer TV services to more people. We can now bring more DTH (direct-to-home) services to people. In Vietnam, we have 19 million Internet users but our population is 84 million. It is OK if you are based in urban areas, but what can you do if you are in remote areas? For this, you need satellite. Only satellite can bring Internet to the remote areas. We think we can remove this black area of communications where people in remote areas have very little access to services. We can eliminate the digital divide between urban and rural areas of Vietnam.
Via Satellite: How soon would you look to have a VinaSat-2 satellite?Vinh: VinaSat-1 is a medium-sized satellite. We have the capacity of 20 transponders — 12 Ku-band transponders and 8 C-band transponders. The total capacity is only about 120 TV channels. Nowadays, it is the time for Vietnam to provide Internet services to more people and try to increase the numbers of people that can watch TV and have access to media. We think we can provide for the domestic as well as the regional market. We think other countries in the region also would like to use the capacity on our satellite to provide services for them. Our satellite has the coverage not only for Vietnam but for other countries in the region. I think the demand for capacity on satellite is very high, and it will soon fill up. The demand for satellite capacity is high due to Internet development as well as access to media services. We are sure that after 2010, we will need more capacity on the satellite. VinaSat-1 has limited capacity. We will sure the demand will mean we will need another satellite.
Via Satellite: So you are already planning the VinaSat-2 satellite then?Vinh: We are preparing to plan for the VinaSat-2 satellite. After 2010, we will need another satellite with more capacity.
Via Satellite: Can satellite broadband have an impact in Vietnam? Are there any plans to offer broadband services via satellite?Vinh: We have replaced our old network with a next-generation network based on an IP platform in order to provide multiple services, including broadband on our fixed network. In mobile, we are moving to 3G. Of course, from 2004 onwards we have already been providing VSAT IP services. We use the IPStar satellite to help provide broadband satellite services. This enables us to connect villages in Vietnam and enable them to have access to these services. Nowadays, villages not only require normal voice services, they want Internet and other broadband services, so satellite broadband is very important for Vietnam and for the remote areas. The demand for satellite broadband services will be very high in Vietnam. We also need other satellites to provide broadband.
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