Vinasat-2 credit package into orbit

VNPT has signed a VND1.092 trillion ($56 million) credit package with state-owned Vietnam Development Bank for its Vinasat-2 project satellite-launching.

The package is one-fifth of the project’s total investment capital of between $280-300 million.

Earlier, in May 2010 VNPT inked a bid contract with US-based Lockheed Martin Group’s Lockheed Martin Commercial Space System on the provision of the satellite, control station equipment and launching services under the Vinasat-2 project.

The Vietnamese government approved investment records and assigned VNPT to handle the project in late December, 2009. For its part, VNPT will be responsible for monitoring assorted bid packages under the Vinasat-2 project which pertain to choosing consultants and insurers, purchase of the satellite and launching services provision.

Vinasat-2 satellite is expected to be launched into orbit by 2012, four years after successful launching of Vinasat-1 in 2008.

China Unicom opens Southeast Asia Regional RO in Vietnam

China Unicom today officially opened its Vietnam representative office in Hanoi, its first local office set up in Southeast Asia region following the presence of its affiliated company in Singapore.

China Unicom celebrated this momentous occasion with a series of activities including a cocktail event and opening ceremony with speech given by Liang Jing, its director and general manager.

Jing said that China Unicom would, through the expansion of its branch network, provide better and convenient telecommunication services to the Chinese-funded enterprises across the Southeast Asia region and the foreign enterprises resided in China.

The new representative office will enable China Unicom to offer enhanced and comprehensive services to their honorable customers and linking Vietnam and its nearby countries to China.

Located at Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, the newly established representative office has a team of experienced telecommunications and information technology professionals who would provide sales and support of China Unicom’s networks and operations services to customers in Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The opening of Vietnam representative office marks a significant milestone of China Unicom that is driven by the commitment to its customers and partners to provide better support to their global growth and development.

The strategic location and attractive business environment of Vietnam, have convinced China Unicom to extend its business here for closer collaboration with partners and corporate customers in this region.

China Unicom’s Vietnam representative office offers international telecommunications products and services including Data Services, Voice Wholesale and Information Communications and Technology .

China Unicom (Hong Kong) Operations Limited was incorporated in Hong Kong in May 2000 and is the largest overseas operational subsidiary of its parent company, China Unicom(Hong Kong) Limited. With the communications networks and resources of its group, China Unicom extends its international business development across the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions.

Vietnam’s first joint venture on LTE-based internet broadband services launched

Vietnam’s first joint venture on providing internet broadband services based on Long Term Evolution or LTE technology was formed between the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and Russian Alltech Group.

VNPTand Alltech Group (Alltech) signed on October 31st an agreement to establish a new joint venture company named RusViet Telecom (RVT).

The joint venture will provide internet broadband services based on LTE technology, having chartered capital of VND1.6 trillion ($84.2 million). Of which, VNPT holds 51 per cent stake of the joint venture. Alltech partner will contribute into the joint venture management and business experiences, technologies along with funding.

VNPT has co-operated with Alltech Telecom to test 4G/LTE network and service in Viet Nam after receiving a test and frequency licences to build anddevelop 4G/LTE network and services in Vietnam and in such countries as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

“We expect this investment project will take 5-7 years to achieve its targeted on internal return ratio or IRR. Investment cost for the test phrase will cost around $5 million and could reach up to $500 million at full scale,” said Evgeny Roytman, chairman of Alltech Telecom.

After two months receiving the test licence to build and develop 4G/LTE network in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the first base station was installed and transmitted signal successfully in Hanoi on October 10, delivering test mode services with internet access of speed up to 60Mbs.

Roytman added that both VNPT and Alltech were strongly committed to the project to bring to the Vietnamese consumers with new services and the same time would contribute to achieving the objectives of developing the national program on information technology applications set out by the Vietnamese government.

Vietnam, Netherlands cooperate in coping with climate change

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held a reception in Hanoi on November 9 for the Netherlands’ former Minister of Agriculture, Professor Veer Man, who has just become an advisor to the government of Vietnam on implementing the national target programme to cope with climate change and sea level rise.

Vietnam is one of the five nations which is expected to hardest hit by climate change and rising sea levels.

Vietnam is one of the five nations which is expected to hardest hit by climate change and rising sea levels. The Vietnamese government considers a major challenge for sustainable development and approved a national target programme to cope with the issues.

To fulfill the goals, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked Professor Veer Man to co-ordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant agencies to map out a detailed plan for a strategic agreement between the two countries on coping with climate change and managing water resources.

Professor Veer Man proposed that the strategic agreement should focus on the Mekong River Delta where climate change and sea level rise can be clearly seen so that Vietnam can draw practical experiences to apply in other areas.

PM Dung also agreed with Professor Veer Man’s proposal and asked him to draw up a detailed plan soon to direct a group of experts in carrying out the plan to cope with climate change and sea level rise in the Mekong River Delta.

Source: VIR, dantrinews