Vietnam greenlights SpaceX's Starlink satellite Internet pilot program

The Vietnamese government has approved a five-year pilot program allowing Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) to deploy its Starlink satellite Internet services across the country, according to a government decision issued on March 23.

Under Ministerial Decision No. 659, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, SpaceX will be permitted to roll out low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite telecommunications services in Vietnam without restrictions on foreign ownership.

Before services can begin, SpaceX must complete all required investment procedures and obtain both a telecommunications business license and a radio frequency use permit.

The pilot program will run for five years from the date the company receives its operating license and must conclude before January 1, 2031.

The deployment will be nationwide and include both fixed and mobile satellite services. The fixed services will offer Internet access and leased lines for mobile base stations, while the mobile services will provide connectivity at sea and in aircraft.

The number of subscribers during the trial period is capped at 600,000, including direct users and those served through local telecom resellers.

To comply with national defense and security regulations, SpaceX is required to establish a ground gateway station within Vietnam, ensuring all data traffic from Vietnamese users passes through this domestic gateway and integrates into the national telecommunications network, VnEconomy reported.

Additionally, in line with Vietnam's data sovereignty laws, user data originating within the country must be stored locally.

SpaceX must also implement cybersecurity measures to protect against cyberthreats and block harmful online content.

The Ministry of Science and Technology, along with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, has been tasked with developing a monitoring framework to oversee legal compliance and technical conditions throughout the pilot period.

This controlled pilot of LEO satellite Internet services aligns with Vietnam's National Assembly Resolution No. 193 passed on February 19, 2025, which focuses on piloting special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.

In September 2024, Tim Hughes, SpaceX senior vice-president for global business and government affairs, met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi to discuss Starlink's entry into the Vietnamese market.

Starlink uses a network of thousands of LEO satellites to deliver high-speed Internet to remote and underserved areas where traditional infrastructure is limited.

SpaceX has launched over 7,000 satellites to date and plans to deploy an additional 12,000 this year.

Since its launch in the United States in October 2020, Starlink has expanded to serve nearly three million customers in over 100 countries.

Hughes praised Vietnam's openness to investment and its commitment to nationwide Internet coverage, adding that SpaceX aims to support fields such as education and disaster response.

He also recommended that Vietnam prioritize infrastructure development to support the successful rollout of satellite Internet.

According to the Vietnam Government Portal, SpaceX is preparing to invest up to $1.5 billion in the Southeast Asian country.

Starlink was previously tested in October 2023 at the Vietnam International Innovation Expo in Hanoi's Hoa Lac area, where trial speeds reached approximately 200 Mbps.

According to SpaceX, Starlink enables high-performance streaming, video calls, online gaming, and remote work, even in the most remote areas, making it the worlds most advanced satellite Internet system.

Vinh Tho - Ngoc An / Tuoi Tre News

(2025/03/28-13:40)