PANO - The VINASAT-2 satellite will be launched into the orbit on May 15th, according to the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (VNPT) at the signing ceremony for the satellite’s insurance policy on March 17th in Hanoi.

The US$260-280 million satellite is manufactured by the US-based Lockheed Martin Company, using the A2100A platform, one of the most advanced technologies and will offer a design life exceeding 15 years.

The VINASAT-2 will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket in the Kourou Space Centre, French Guiana. The payback time for the satellite is from 10 to 12 years, similar to the VINASAT-1.

The two VINASAT-1 and VINASAT-2 would form a satellite system to strengthen Vietnam’s telecom infrastructure ability

The VINASAT-2’s insurance value of VND 4.7 trillion has been signed by the Post and Telecommunication Joint Stock Insurance Corporation-PTI (70 per cent) and Bao Viet Insurance Group (30 per cent) with the VNPT.

Earlier, the first Vietnam’s satellite, VINASAT-1, was launched in April, 2008. Up to now, the VINASAT-1 provides radio, television and telephone transmission services for local and international businesses, such as VTV, VTC, HTV and VOV (Vietnam), Thaicom and CH7 (Thailand), Eutelsat (France) and Lao Telecom.

Translated by Van Hieu