Russia's NPOPM Keen on Manufacturing Satellite for Vietnam

Russia's NPOPM Keen on Manufacturing Satellite for Vietnam

The Academician Reshetnev Applied Mechanics Research and Production Association, NPOPM, is willing to continue the project on manufacturing the first Vinasat telecoms satellite for Vietnam, a NPOPM official told Vietnam News Agency in Russia Wednesday.

"If proposed by Vietnam, NPOPM will resume talks over the project with Vietnamese authorities," said Valeri Lvob, Director of NPOPM Business & Planning Department.

Last year, initial negotiations were already held between NPOPM experts and leaders of the Vietnam Post & Telecoms Corp. (VNPT), the owner of the project. The two sides have reached basic agreement over the project, although there are many famous companies from other countries seeking to participate in the project.

According to VNPT, the launch of Vinasat has been delayed to 2007 instead of 2005 as planned because the location of the satellite orbit has not been agreed upon.

Since 1996, Vietnam has registered eight locations for orbit with the International Telecoms Union and while the location 132E has been proposed as the location for the satellite, negotiations with related countries have not yet concluded.

"Due to the incomplete negotiations, the selection of a contractor to launch the satellite has also been delayed," said the Minister of Post & Telecoms Do Trung Ta.

The project to launch Vinasat requires total investment capital of USUS$270 million. It will have 25-30 transceiving units, each of which has 500 telephone channels or 4-6 television channels. Vinasat will have a lifespan of 15 years.

People's Army