Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has given a green light to the country’s second communication satellite project, Vinasat 2, less than two years after the successful launch of its predecessor, Vinasat 1.

The PM designated the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) as the investor of the project. The VNPT will select contractors and manage consultancy, purchasing, insurance and launching.

With total investment estimated from 290 million USD to 350 million USD, the project will be divided into phases and completed by 2012.

Vinasat 2 project aims to boost the domestic telecommunication market, capitalise on existing infrastructure for Vinasat 1 and enhance Vietnam expertise in satellite telecommunication.

The second satellite will occupy the orbital position registered with the International Telecommunication Union in 1999 by the Ministry of Information ad Communications before it was officially handed over to the VNPT last July.

Vinasat 1 is projected to be running at full capacity by later this year with Vinasat 2 set to supply continuing demand.

It currently operates at 70 percent of its designed capacity, with main clients including the Vietnam Television, Radio Voice of Vietnam, and telecommunication networks Viettel and Gtel, the petroleum industry and ministries of Foreign Affaires and Education and Training.

Vinasat 1’s launch in April 2008 after 10 years of planning made Vietnam the 93 rd country in the world and the sixth in Southeast Asia to operate its own satellite./.