The National Assembly has officially passed a Resolution to pilot a number of special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation.
One of the outstanding decisions is the development of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite telecommunications. This is considered an important turning point in the digital connectivity strategy, aiming to remove obstacles in telecommunications infrastructure, especially in remote areas and islands.
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivers closing speech at the session (Photo: Quochoi.vn).
Deploying LEO technology not only improves internet quality and narrows the digital divide, but also strengthens disaster response capacity, promotes education, healthcare and sustainable economic development.
What is low orbit satellite telecommunications?
Low Earth Orbit Satellites are satellites that operate at altitudes ranging from 160km to less than 2,000km above the Earth's surface. Unlike geostationary (GEO) satellites that orbit the Earth at an altitude of about 35,786km, LEO satellites move faster and complete one orbit around the Earth in about 90 to 120 minutes.
Low-orbit satellites are satellites that operate at altitudes from 160km to less than 2,000km above the Earth's surface (Photo: Getty).
The standout feature of LEO is its ability to provide low-latency internet connectivity and global coverage through satellite constellations - a collection of hundreds, even thousands of satellites operating in sync.
LEO is not a new concept. However, the explosion in demand for high-speed internet and the decline in launch costs thanks to reusable rocket technology have made LEO the leading solution for global connectivity.
Prominent projects like Starlink (SpaceX), Kuiper (Amazon) and OneWeb are pioneers in this field.
The LEO race is becoming the focus of major technology corporations. SpaceX, with its Starlink project, has launched more than 6,000 satellites and provides services to more than 110 countries. Amazon has invested tens of billions of dollars in Kuiper with the goal of global coverage by 2026. OneWeb, a British-Indian joint venture, is targeting Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
LEO satellites move faster and complete one orbit around the Earth in about 90 to 120 minutes (Photo: Getty).
China, Japan and South Korea are also not left out. China plans to deploy more than 12,000 LEO satellites to compete with the West and increase its influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), LEO not only improves connectivity but also helps reduce costs, enhance disaster response capabilities and promote space technology development.
How will LEO revolutionize telecommunications?
LEO revolutionizes internet coverage (Photo: Getty).
In an era where information and communication technology has become the "backbone" of all economic and social activities, ensuring stable, fast and universal internet connection is a vital factor for every country.
LEO, with its outstanding advantages, is considered a key solution in the race to build a digital economy and narrow the digital gap between regions around the world.
Solutions for telecommunications "white areas"
Currently, many mountainous areas in the North, Central Highlands and remote island districts still have difficulty accessing the internet. Fiber optic infrastructure cannot provide comprehensive coverage due to difficult terrain conditions and high investment costs.
With global coverage without depending on ground infrastructure, LEO satellites will help people in these places access stable and high-speed internet.
LEO helps patch telecommunications "white spaces" in remote areas (Illustration: Thanh Dong).
This helps to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, between mainland and islands, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age.
Meet the need for high quality connectivity with low latency
In the context of strong digital transformation, the need for high-speed, stable and low-latency connections is an indispensable foundation. LEO is the optimal solution to meet that need.
According to ABI Research, LEO satellites operate at altitudes of 200km to 2,000km above the Earth's surface, much lower than geostationary (GEO) satellites at an altitude of about 36,000km.
LEO satellites, with low-Earth orbits, reduce latency to less than 27ms - equivalent to terrestrial fiber networks, suitable for applications requiring real-time response such as online gaming, video conferencing and live broadcasting.
This not only improves user experience in everyday activities, but also opens up more powerful development opportunities for high-tech applications:
- Distance Education: Students in remote areas can attend high-quality online classes without interruption.
- Telemedicine: Doctors in big cities can diagnose and perform surgery remotely for patients in remote areas.
- Financial transactions: Businesses and people can make online transactions without worrying about order delays, reducing financial risks.
- Remote control: Applications in smart agriculture, machine operation, global supply chain management.
Support disaster response and information security
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods often destroy ground telecommunications infrastructure, disrupting communications at the most critical times.
LEO provides effective support for connectivity in areas devastated by natural disasters (Illustration: Huu Khoa).
Vietnam, one of the countries heavily affected by climate change, has repeatedly witnessed areas being cut off from information during major storms and floods.
In these cases, LEO satellites become a lifesaver. With just a small signal transceiver, rescue forces, medical staff and people in the affected area can maintain communication, support search and rescue operations and distribute relief supplies. This is a decisive factor for survival in emergency situations.
Problems to be solved to develop satellite networks
LEO deployment brings many benefits in terms of connectivity and high-tech applications. However, investment costs are one of the biggest barriers that make many countries and businesses consider carefully when participating in this field.
Investment costs are one of the biggest barriers that make many countries and businesses consider carefully when entering this field (Photo: Getty).
Deploying a complete LEO system requires a huge investment. According to Morgan Stanley research (2023), the cost of building a network of thousands of LEO satellites can range from $10 billion to $50 billion depending on the scale and technology applied. For example:
- Starlink project (SpaceX): Expected to cost more than 42 billion USD to launch and maintain 12,000 operating satellites.
- Kuiper Project (Amazon): Amazon invested about 10 billion USD to deploy more than 3,200 satellites.
- OneWeb: Spent more than $6 billion on 648 satellites.
According to ITU Report, the cost of renting services from international providers is estimated at 100-200 million USD/year for satellite connectivity services.
In addition to the initial investment costs, operators also face significant operating and maintenance costs.
"The challenge of LEO-based broadband services today is that the cost of terminals is relatively high compared to existing satellite or terrestrial platforms. LEO satellite operators need to find ways to reduce terminal costs.
“There is a need to offer flexible and affordable service packages to users in both developed and emerging markets. While hardware costs may need to be heavily subsidized initially, the ability to increase user adoption will help grow the ecosystem and ultimately drive down hardware costs,” said ABI Research analyst Khin Sandi Lynn.
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