Ground was broken for the Radio and Television Construction Project in Houaphanh Province (Laos)

In attendance were Mr. Sakhone Phommalath, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and overseer of the Lao National Radio, and Mr. Phoutphan Keovongsay, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Deputy Governor of Houaphanh Province. Representing Vietnam were Mr. Le Quyen, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television (VTV), and Mr. Nguyen Phuc Thinh, Deputy Chief of the VTV Office and project representative.

Mr. Phoutphan Keovongsay - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Deputy Governor of Houaphanh Province delivers his remarks.

Mr. Phoutphan Keovongsay  emphasized that the Radio and Television  Construction Project is important for Houaphanh Province. Once operational, it will meet the growing need for a modern, transparent, and timely communication infrastructure. 

VTV Deputy General Director Le Quyen and delegates at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Representing Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Phuc Thinh, Deputy Chief of the Office of Vietnam Television and the project representative, stated that the project will improve education, promote cultural exchange, and broaden the dissemination of the Lao Party’s and the State’s policies nationwide, helping to strengthen the special friendship between the two countries.

A valuable gift from the Vietnamese government to the Lao government and Houaphanh Province.

The Houaphanh Provincial Radio and Television  Office  Project was assigned to VTV for implementation by the Vietnamese Government in 2022. The project’s total investment value is 146.4 billion VND, comprising 138.6 billion VND of non-refundable aid from the Vietnamese Government to the Lao Government, and 7.8 billion VND  of  counterpart funding from Laos.

Delegates perform the groundbreaking ceremony ritual.

Designed with modern technology, the project includes a digital television transmission system using the DTMB and DVB-T2 standards, with  a  3kW power output, operating in the UHF band  on channel 35; and an FM Radio Transmission System with a 5kW power output at 104 MHz, suitable for local conditions. The project includes three main functional components:

- The broadcasting block  comprises a transmitter building and a 75-meter broadcast antenna tower.

- The production block  consists of a  central office, radio and television studios, and dedicated rooms for ethnic-language radio programming.

- Auxiliary facilities  include landscaping, power supply, lightning protection, and modern fire prevention systems.

Additionally, the project will upgrade and equip three district-level FM transmitters (500W each) in the Viengxay, Hua Muong, and Sop Bao districts. The station’s architecture follows Lao design aesthetics, harmonizing with the surrounding landscape, highlighted by the 75-meter broadcast tower  providing a striking focal point.

The construction site is located within the existing Houaphanh Provincial Radio and Television compound, covering 9,236 m², bordered by residential areas, government offices, and the Xayyaram Pagoda.

Once operational, the Houaphanh Radio and Television Station and the district-level FM transmitters   will reach 60-70% of the province’s population, providing direct access to national radio and television programs. 

Later the same day, VTV Deputy General Director Le Quyen and the Vietnamese delegation visited Mr. Phoutphan Keovongsay. They congratulated him on his recent appointment as Secretary of the Houaphanh Provincial Party Committee.