35 years of cooperation in transforming telecommunications connectivity between Vietnam and Australia

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski and Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh reenacted the historic call 35 years ago at the event on November 20.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski and Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh reenacted the historic call.

DISCUSSION

“This partnership has truly created a landmark change in connecting Vietnam with the world and has contributed to building a solid foundation for the bilateral relationship that our two countries enjoy today,” said Ambassador Goledzinowski.

Vietnam’s journey to connect telecommunications with the world began with the cooperation between the Australian Overseas Telecommunications Commission (OTC) (later Telstra) and the General Department of Vietnam Post (GDPT later inherited by VNPT). This year marks 35 years since OTC and GDPT signed the first Business Cooperation Agreement in 1988.

According to the Ambassador, this cooperation has greatly supported Vietnam in the process of realizing the benefits of innovation and helped create a favorable environment for business and investment in Vietnam.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski; Professor - Dr. Do Trung Ta, former Minister of Posts and Telecommunications; Mr. Peter Shore, CEO of OTC; Dr. Mai Liem Truc, former Permanent Deputy Minister of Posts and Telecommunications; Mr. Huynh Quang Liem, General Director of VNPT Group, cut the cake to celebrate the 35th anniversary

Australian Embassy

“As we celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam this year, we are focusing on the next phase of our cooperation to turn the opportunities of the digital revolution into reality,” the Australian Ambassador affirmed.

OTC installed Vietnam’s first Vista satellite earth station in Ho Chi Minh City in 1987, connecting to Australia. This allowed up to five international calls to be made simultaneously, improving quality and capacity compared to the limited radio links at the time.

Additional and larger-scale satellite ground stations were first installed in Hanoi, then throughout the country, and International Telecommunication Centers were also established in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

In early 1989, Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans AO visited Hanoi and made the first call over the new satellite link from Hanoi to his counterpart, Acting Minister for Telecommunications Bob Brown, in Australia. OTC subsequently installed new, larger satellite receiving stations in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, significantly increasing the capacity and service provided over the Intelsat network.

During the 1990s, with technological innovations, the partnership reached many important milestones. The first internet connection device was brought to Vietnam by Australian National University Professor Rob Hurle in 1991. Australia also participated in Vietnam's first submarine cable project located in Vung Tau in 1999. This cable allowed for 15,000 simultaneous international calls, along with international high-speed video and data services. The second submarine cable was installed in 2000 in Da Nang and is still in operation today.

In addition to infrastructure, the partnership also focuses on human resource development. OTC/Telstra has supported training programs for more than 3,000 technicians, engineers, financial managers and marketing staff in the telecommunications industry in Vietnam.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/35-nam-hop-tac-chuyen-doi-ket-noi-vien-thong-giua-viet-nam-va-uc-185231120203827201.htm