Page 85 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

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Ministry Proposes More Conditions for Setting Up Satellite Internet

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has Law on Telecommunications 2009. In addition, the establishment
proposed that foreign businesses which want to provide domestic of fixed satellite and mobile telecommunications networks must
satellite telecommunications services must have a gateway also meet capital and investment conditions, such as: contributed
station located in Việt Nam. The information is stated in a draft charter capital must be at least VNĐ30 billion (US$1.2 million); and
decree detailing articles and measures to implement the Law total investment capital in the network must be at least VNĐ100
on Telecommunications 2023, which is being consulted by the billion ($4.1 million) in the first three years. During the process of
MIC. In the section on providing telecommunications services, developing the new Telecommunications Law, the MIC evaluated
the draft paper provides a number of provisions for cross-border that satellite services with very large coverage areas can operate
services to Vietnamese users. Under the draft decree, the supplier and provide services without either a technical or commercial
must have a commercial agreement with a licensed domestic presence in the host country, which means they are providing cross-
telecommunications enterprise. The domestic enterprise will then border services. In the context of satellite technology increasingly
have to set up a technical plan to ensure information security, expanding, they pose a number of potential risks, such as data of
perform emergency prevention, and stop providing services at users in Việt Nam going directly abroad and being collected and
the request of competent state agencies. In case of providing used illegally, the risks of data loss affecting the service users’
satellite telecommunications services, the supplier must have rights, and network and information insecurity. Therefore, satellite
a plan in which all traffic generated by satellite subscriber information services development must ensure sustainable market
terminals in the territory of Việt Nam must pass through the growth and the users’ rights, protecting personal information, and
ground gateway station located in Việt Nam and connected to ensuring information safety and security. In Việt Nam, the Việt
the public telecommunications network, according to the draft Nam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) is the only unit
decree. This is a new point compared to the decree guiding the that owns a satellite information network. This form of connection
uses VSAT (very small aperture terminal) with antenna diameters
of 1.2-3m and the Vinasat broadband satellite information system
to provide services. However, this method has low speed and high
cost. The current trend in the world is to transmit satellite internet
using low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, like SpaceX
is doing with Starlink. Last year, some of this company's devices
were brought to test demonstrations at an event in Hà Nội with
transmission speeds of 150-200 Mbps. The solution is expected to
help provide internet to remote areas that are difficult to reach with
conventional cables.

SpaceX to De-Orbit 100 Starlink Satellites After Finding “Common Error”

SpaceX is to de-orbit 100 of its early Starlink satellites after finding “Controlled, propulsive de-orbit is much shorter and safer than a
a “common error” that could potentially cause failures. In a recent comparable ballistic de-orbit from an equivalent altitude.” The
update posted to the company site, the company said it will perform company promised to provide regular positioning information
controlled descents of approximately 100 early-version 1 Starlink “multiple times a day” with other satellite and launch companies.
satellites in the coming weeks and months. “These satellites are Due to the atmospheric drag at Low Earth Orbit (LEO) altitudes –
currently maneuverable and serving users effectively, but the 2,000 km (1,200 mi) or less – satellites will naturally de-deorbit
Starlink team identified a common issue in this small population after around five years if not properly maintaining their desired
of satellites that could increase the probability of failure in the orbit. Starlink satellites generally operate below 600 km. SpaceX
future,” the company said. It didn’t disclose the nature of the issue said that of the almost 6,000 satellites launched by SpaceX, it has
or how many satellites currently have this issue. SpaceX noted it is to-date initiated controlled de-orbits on 406. Seventeen of those are
in control of the machines and will maintain maneuverability and currently non-maneuverable and described as passively decaying
collision avoidance capabilities during the descent, after which while “well-tracked”, while the rest are in controlled descent or have
they will burn up in the atmosphere. “The satellites will follow a already de-orbited. According to SpaceNews, the oldest Starlink
safe, circular, and controlled lowering operation that should take satellites still in orbit are from 2019/2020. The company has said
approximately six months for most of the vehicles,” SpaceX said. the de-orbiting won’t impact its broadband services.

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