Narrowing Digital Divide by VSAT-IP Services

Vietnam Telecom International (VTI) has launched VSAT-IP/IPSTAR broadband satellite services and officially put the VSAT-IP (very small aperture terminal-internet protocol) into use in Vietnam. This low cost solution will enable the bridge of the digital divide between rural and urban communities.

 

VTI’s VSAT-IP project was carried out immediately after it was ratified in December 2004. The VSAT-IP ground station in Que Duong Commune, Ha Tay Province was built in June 2005, inaugurated and put into operation in November 2005. VTI began installing VSAT-IP stations in far-flung areas in 17 provinces and cities nationwide since August 2005. By the end of December 2005, VTI had erected and activated 124 VSAT-IP stations to fulfil the target of providing telephone services to all communes nationwide.

 

Mr Nguyen Huu Khanh, director of VTI, said at the launching ceremony that with a complete VSAT-IP system (including terrestrial equipment, satellite equipment and IP equipment), VTI initially offers such services as telephone, broadband internet accesses, channel leases, virtual private networks (VPN). In the coming time, VTI will add other services and utilities such as video conferencing and online television.