Joint Circular No. 01/2006/TTLT-BBCVT-BNG-BCA guiding the issuance of permits for the use of satellite communication stations by foreign representative offices, foreign delegations, and foreign press accompanying foreign delegations.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for issuing permits to use satellite communication stations for foreign diplomatic missions, foreign delegations, and foreign journalists accompanying foreign delegations.

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Pursuant to Article 17 of Decree No. 24/2004/NĐ-CP dated January 14, 2004, issued by the Government, detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Ordinance on Posts and Telecommunications regarding radio frequency spectrum.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications hereby issue guidelines for issuing permits to use satellite communication stations for foreign diplomatic missions, foreign delegations, and foreign journalists accompanying foreign delegations as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Thông tư này quy định chi tiết khoản 4 Điều 38 Luật Thủy sản số 18/2017/QH14 đã được sửa đổi, bổ sung tại điểm c khoản 21 Điều 14 Luật số 146/2025/QH15.

This Circular provides detailed guidance on issuing permits to use satellite communication stations for foreign diplomatic missions, foreign delegations, and foreign journalists accompanying foreign delegations. The satellite communication stations referred to in this Circular are those using foreign satellite communication services or international satellite communication organizations' services.

The issuance of permits for satellite communication stations using domestic telecommunications enterprises' satellite communication services shall be carried out in accordance with Article 18 of Decree No. 24/2004/NĐ-CP.

Thông tư này áp dụng đối với tổ chức, cá nhân có liên quan đến hoạt động kinh doanh đối tượng thủy sản nuôi chủ lực trên lãnh thổ Việt Nam.

The subjects referred to in this Circular include:

2.1. Foreign diplomatic missions are: foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices, and international organizations' representative offices under the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam.

2.2. Foreign delegations are: foreign delegations visiting Vietnam at the invitation of Party leaders, State leaders, National Assembly, and Government.

2.3. Foreign journalists accompanying foreign delegations are: journalists listed in the delegation's roster and operating under the management of the delegation's press officer.

2.4. Other special cases requiring approval from the relevant ministries.

II. ISSUANCE OF PERMITS TO USE SATELLITE COMMUNICATION STATIONS

1. Conditions for Issuance

The subjects referred to in Point 2 of Section I of this Circular must meet the following conditions when establishing and using satellite communication stations:

1.1. The establishment and use of satellite communication stations must solely ensure official communication, with clear communication targets, not for commercial or other purposes.

1.2. Equipment must comply with technical standards prescribed by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

1.3. Equipment must ensure safety limits for electromagnetic fields around people according to regulations set by competent state authorities.

1.4. Antenna installation locations and antenna height must comply with regulations of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and other laws concerning aviation safety.

1.5. For the subjects referred to in Points 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 of Section I of this Circular, the issuance of permits to use satellite communication stations will follow the principle of reciprocity. The foreign side must also provide conditions for Vietnamese diplomatic missions and delegations to install and use satellite communication stations when needed.

2. Application Documents

Application documents (in triplicate) include:

2.1. An application form for a permit to use a satellite communication station (as prescribed) stamped with the seal of the organization and signed by an authorized person.

2.2. A declaration for a permit to use radio frequencies and radio transmitters for satellite communication stations (as prescribed) accompanied by technical documentation of the satellite communication equipment.

2.3. A press accreditation certificate issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for foreign journalists accompanying foreign delegations).).

3. Receiving Application Documents

3.1. The Protocol Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is responsible for receiving applications for permits to use satellite communication stations from foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices, and international organizations' representative offices under the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam.

For foreign consular offices, application documents are received by provincial Departments of Foreign Affairs. These departments confirm and submit the documents to the Protocol Department within three days of receipt to process according to the procedures stipulated in Point 4 of Section II of this Circular.

3.2. The host organization is responsible for receiving applications for permits to use satellite communication stations for foreign delegations visiting Vietnam at the invitation of Party leaders, State leaders, National Assembly, and Government.

3.3. The host organization or the Information and Press Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is responsible for receiving applications for permits for foreign journalists accompanying foreign delegations.

4. Procedures for Granting Permits

The procedures for granting permits to use satellite communication stations for the subjects referred to in Point 2 of Section I of this Circular shall be jointly implemented by relevant agencies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications as follows:

4.1. For Foreign Diplomatic Missions

4.1.1. The Protocol Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) shall issue a written opinion sent to the Technical Operations Bureau I (Ministry of Public Security) and the Radio Frequency Management Bureau (Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications) within seven working days from the date of receipt of complete and valid application documents.

4.1.2. The Technical Operations Bureau I shall issue a written opinion sent to the Protocol Department and the Radio Frequency Management Bureau within seven working days from the date of receipt of complete application documents.

In case additional time is required for review, beyond the specified period, the Technical Operations Bureau I shall notify the Protocol Department and the Radio Frequency Management Bureau in writing of the extended review period (but not exceeding ten working days).

4.1.3. After receiving complete and accurate application documents, the Radio Frequency Management Bureau shall calculate and assign frequencies, issue a Permit to Use Frequencies and Radio Transmitters (for satellite communication stations), deliver the permit to the foreign diplomatic mission, and simultaneously inform the Protocol Department and the Technical Operations Bureau I of the results within six working days from the date of receipt of the Technical Operations Bureau I's document.

For satellite communication stations requiring international frequency coordination, the Radio Frequency Management Bureau shall issue a temporary permit during the coordination period (according to the procedures stipulated in Article 9 of the ITU Radio Regulations). The final permit will be issued after completing international frequency coordination.

4.2. For Foreign Delegations

4.2.1. The competent authority receiving the delegation shall submit their comments in writing to the Technical Operations Bureau I and the Radio Frequency Management Agency within one day from the date of receipt of all valid documents.

4.2.2. The Technical Operations Bureau I shall submit their comments in writing to the competent authority receiving the delegation and the Radio Frequency Management Agency within two working days from the date of receipt of all valid documents.

4.2.3. After three working days from the date of receipt of all valid documents from the competent authority receiving the delegation, if there is no comment from the Technical Operations Bureau I, the Radio Frequency Management Agency shall calculate and determine the frequency, issue the Frequency Usage Permit and Radio Transmitter Equipment Permit (for satellite communication stations), and send the permit to the foreign delegation, while simultaneously informing the competent authority receiving the delegation and the Technical Operations Bureau I of the result.

4.3. For Foreign Correspondents accompanying foreign delegations

4.3.1. The competent authority receiving the delegation or the Information and Press Department shall submit their comments in writing to the Technical Operations Bureau I and the Radio Frequency Management Agency within five working days from the date of receipt of all valid documents.

4.3.2. The Technical Operations Bureau I shall submit their comments in writing to the competent authority receiving the delegation or the Information and Press Department and the Radio Frequency Management Agency within five working days from the date of receipt of all valid documents.

In cases where additional time for review is required, upon expiration of the aforementioned period, the Technical Operations Bureau I shall notify in writing the additional review period (but not exceeding ten working days) to the competent authority receiving the delegation or the Information and Press Department and the Radio Frequency Management Agency.

4.3.3. Upon receipt of all valid documents, accurately, within five working days from the date of receipt of the document from the Technical Operations Bureau I, the Radio Frequency Management Agency shall calculate and determine the frequency, issue the Frequency Usage Permit and Radio Transmitter Equipment Permit (for satellite communication stations), and send the permit to the foreign correspondent accompanying the foreign delegation, while simultaneously informing the competent authority receiving the delegation or the Information and Press Department and the Technical Operations Bureau I of the result.

4.3.4. In urgent cases, the application for permission to use satellite communication stations may be reviewed together with the delegation's documents that the correspondent accompanies.

5. Validity Period of the Permit

5.1. The validity period of the permit issued to foreign representative offices is a maximum of five years for satellite communication stations that have completed international frequency coordination.

5.2. The validity period of the permit issued to foreign delegations and accompanying foreign correspondents is based on the duration of the delegation's work in Vietnam.

6. Supplementing Documents

In cases where the documents are incomplete, inaccurate, or require clarification of content:

Within three working days from the date of receipt of the documents (for the subjects mentioned in Point 2.1; 2.3 Section I) and one working day (for the subjects mentioned in Point 2.2 Section I of this Circular), the Radio Frequency Management Agency shall send a written request and guidance to the above subjects to complete the documents.

The process of determining the frequency can only be carried out after receiving complete and accurate documents submitted to the Radio Frequency Management Agency.

7. Renewal of Permits

The renewal procedure applies only to foreign representative offices.

Thirty days before the permit expires, if there is a need to continue using it (without modifying or supplementing the permit content), the foreign representative office must submit a Request for Permit Renewal Form (according to the prescribed model) bearing the seal of the office and the signature and name of the authorized person.

7.1. The Protocol Department shall submit its comments in writing to the Technical Operations Bureau I and the Radio Frequency Management Agency within five working days from the date of receipt of all valid documents.

7.2. The Radio Frequency Management Agency shall review the renewal and issue the permit to the foreign representative office within six working days from the date of receipt of all valid documents, while simultaneously informing the Protocol Department and the Technical Operations Bureau I of the result.

8. Amending and Supplementing Permits

During the validity period of the permit, if the subjects mentioned in Point 2 Section I of this Circular need to amend or supplement the permit content, they must prepare documents to obtain a new permit. The documents include:

8.1. A Request for Amendment and Supplement of Permit Content (according to the prescribed model) bearing the seal of the office and the signature and name of the authorized person.

8.2. A declaration detailing the amended and supplemented contents.

8.3. Other related documents concerning the amended and supplemented contents.

The procedures and deadlines for amending and supplementing permits are implemented according to Point 4 Section II of this Circular.

9. Refusal to Issue New, Renew, or Amend and Supplement Permits

In cases where new issuance, renewal, amendment, or supplementation of permits is refused, the Radio Frequency Management Agency shall notify in writing the reasons for refusal to the Technical Operations Bureau I, the Protocol Department, the competent authority receiving the delegation, or the Information and Press Department within twenty working days from the date of receipt of the document from the Protocol Department, the competent authority receiving the delegation, or the Information and Press Department.

The Protocol Department, the competent authority receiving the delegation, or the Information and Press Department shall respond to the refusal to the relevant subjects mentioned in Point 2.1; 2.3 Section I of this Circular within three working days from the date of receipt of the notification from the Radio Frequency Management Agency.

10. Fees and Charges for Issuing Permits and Using Radio Frequencies

The subjects mentioned in Point 2 Section I of this Circular, when obtaining permission to use satellite communication stations, must pay the permit issuance fee and radio frequency usage fee according to the collection rates stipulated by the Ministry of Finance (currently implemented according to Decision No. 22/2005/QD-BTC dated April 11, 2005).

11. Revocation of Permits

During the validity period, the permit for frequency usage and radio communication equipment (for satellite communication stations) will be revoked in the following cases:

11.1. Six months after the date of issuance of the permit, if the foreign representative office does not implement the contents specified in the permit in reality.

11.2. If the subjects mentioned in Point 2.1; 2.3 and 2.4 Section I of this Circular notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in writing about their intention not to continue using the satellite communication station.

11.3. The entities mentioned in Points 2.1; 2.3 and 2.4 of Section I of this Circular who use satellite communication stations in violation of the licensing conditions stipulated in Point 1 of Section II of this Circular, misuse them, or violate Vietnamese laws shall be subject to such actions.

11.4. When closing the representative office in Vietnam (as notified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

The Posts and Telecommunications Ministry issues a decision to revoke the license, clearly stating the reasons for revocation, and sends the decision to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the host agency and the Ministry of Public Security.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the host agency notifies the entities mentioned in Point 2.1; 2.3 and 2.4 of Section I of this Circular about the revocation of their licenses.

12. Responsibilities of entities granted permission to use satellite communication stations.

Entities mentioned in Point 2 of Section I of this Circular, when granted permission to use satellite communication stations, shall have the following responsibilities:

12.1. Comply with Vietnamese laws regarding the installation, use of frequencies, and satellite communication equipment.

12.2. Use the station solely for official communication purposes, not for business or other purposes.

12.3. Accurately and fully declare technical parameters and operational details in the declaration form (according to the model prescribed by the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry).

12.4. Installation and operation of satellite communication stations may only commence after obtaining a Frequency and Radio Transmitter Usage Permit (for satellite communication stations).

12.5. Operate strictly in accordance with the conditions specified in the permit, particularly concerning frequency, bandwidth occupancy, power, installation location, and other conditions.

12.6. Not cause harmful interference to other radio stations.

12.7. Be subject to inspection and supervision by state management agencies for telecommunications and radio frequencies.

12.8. Facilitate state management agencies in conducting inspections and handling harmful interference.

III. INSPECTION, SUPERVISION AND HANDLING OF HARMFUL INTERFERENCE

1. Inspection and Supervision of Radio Frequencies

1.1. Entities mentioned in Point 2 of Section I of this Circular, when using frequencies and satellite communication stations on Vietnamese territory, must comply with frequency and radio transmitter inspection and supervision by the Radio Frequency Management Bureau.

1.2. Technical parameter measurements at the installation site of satellite communication stations will be conducted when resolving harmful interference or upon discovery of violations of laws related to radio frequencies.

The Radio Frequency Management Bureau will notify the time and location of the measurement at the installation site of foreign representative offices' satellite communication stations so that the Protocol Department can handle diplomatic procedures, facilitating relevant agencies in completing radio frequency inspection tasks.

2. Handling Harmful Interference

2.1. During the operation and use of satellite communication stations, entities mentioned in Point 2 of Section I of this Circular have the following rights and responsibilities:

2.1.1. Upon experiencing harmful interference, they must submit a "Harmful Interference Report" according to the prescribed format to the Radio Frequency Management Bureau and follow the guidelines to organize the identification of the source of interference and measures to resolve it.

2.1.2. If causing harmful interference, they must cease operations and take necessary measures to eliminate interference before resuming operations.

2.1.3. Cooperate with the Radio Frequency Management Bureau and create favorable conditions for the rapid and accurate detection and effective resolution of harmful interference in the affected area.

2.2. The resolution of harmful interference shall be carried out in accordance with the principles stipulated in Clause 2, Article 30, Decree No. 24/2004/NĐ-CP.

2.3. In cases where necessary, the Radio Frequency Management Bureau shall lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to establish a joint inspection team to resolve harmful interference.

The Protocol Department shall handle diplomatic procedures when it is necessary to measure and resolve interference at the installation sites of foreign representative offices' satellite communication stations.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

This Circular shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Relevant agencies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, and Posts and Telecommunications Ministry shall cooperate, implement, and guide entities mentioned in Point 2 of Section I to comply with this Circular./.