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First Vietnam Telecommunications Satelite to be Launched

Wednesday, 12. March 2008, 10:23:35

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam, which has seen demand for telecommunications surge by about 30 percent each year, will launch its first satellite in April as part of efforts to reduce its reliance on the leasing of foreign satellites.

VINASAT-I is scheduled to be launched into orbit on April 12 in French Guiana by European firm ArianeSpace, state-run Vietnam Posts and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) said on Wednesday.

The $200-million VINASAT-I, built by Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), will have a life span of 15 to 20 years, VNPT Vice General Director Nguyen Ba Thuoc said at a press conference in Hanoi.

"Vietnam will be more active to improve network capability and quality of telecommunication, IT and communication services and to reduce the gap between cities and rural areas," he said.

VINASAT-I has a transmission capacity of 10,000 voice/Internet/Data channels or 120 television channels, VNPT said.

Demand for telecommunication services is rising fast, along with annual GDP growth of more than 8 percent, in the communist-ruled Southeast Asian country.

About 19 million people out of a population of 85 million subscribed to Internet services by the end of 2007, up nearly 30 percent from 2006 and mobile phone use is common countrywide.

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VietNam Flooding

Friday, 16. November 2007, 10:51:47

VietNam

Renewed flooding in Vietnam

Fresh flooding in central Vietnam has claimed the lives of 24 people with scores of others missing.

Violent floods caused by three days of torrential rain have cut off roads and railways across several provinces. Around 25,000 people were evacuated to higher ground to escape the rising floodwaters, as more than 61,500 homes were submerged. Dozens of homes were completely destroyed in the Quang Hgai Province, while a series of landslides along a stretch of main road have isolated the Tay Tra District.

Around 3,000 tourists have been confined to hotels in the city of Hue as the rains pounded central districts of the country.

In Khanh Hoa province, rising floodwaters damaged the enclosure of a crocodile farm, allowing hundreds to escape into surrounding area. People are now faced with the threat of hundreds of crocodiles swimming in the floodwaters.

With the prolonged flooding that Vietnam has seen, health officials have warned of the spread of various water borne diseases. Acute diarrhoea and cholera have already affected around 2000 people.

The heaviest rain has eased across central parts, but forecasters are expecting further periods of heavy rain and thundery showers over the next few days.