Billionaire Elon Musk's company is piloting Starlink satellite internet service in Vietnam

An antenna transmitting and receiving Starlink satellite Internet signals - Photo: AFP

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung signed Prime Minister's Decision 659 allowing a controlled pilot implementation of telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology without any limits on foreign investors' share ownership, capital contribution or contribution ratio.

Pilot until January 1, 2031

Specifically, the pilot organization is the US Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) which is conducting a controlled pilot investment in telecommunications services with network infrastructure, a type of satellite telecommunications network using low-orbit satellite technology in Vietnam.

This pilot is carried out on the principle of ensuring national defense and security. There is no limit on the percentage of share ownership, capital contribution or contribution ratio of foreign investors as prescribed.

Enterprises are allowed to pilot the granting of licenses to use radio frequencies and equipment to enterprises providing telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology, instead of granting licenses to use radio frequencies and equipment to terminal users.

The pilot implementation of telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology shall be carried out within 5 years from the date the enterprise organizing the pilot is granted a telecommunications services business license and must end before January 1, 2031.

The Prime Minister's Decision also clearly states that the pilot organization and enterprises established in Vietnam must commit to ensuring compliance with the requirements and conditions when implementing the pilot. These include requirements on the type of telecommunications service deployed; scope of implementation; maximum number of subscribers; frequency of use and especially requirements to ensure national defense and security.

The types of telecommunications services that will be piloted include: Fixed satellite services (Internet access services; private leased line services for mobile receiving and transmitting stations); mobile satellite services (Internet access services at sea; Internet access services on airplanes).

The maximum number of subscribers to be deployed on the pilot is 600,000 subscribers, including the total number of telecommunications service subscribers of enterprises established in Vietnam and of telecommunications enterprises reselling services of enterprises established in Vietnam.

Cases of pilot termination and license revocation

In case of termination of the pilot and revocation of the telecommunications service business license, the license to use radio frequencies and equipment when the license is revoked; failure to comply with or violation of one of the pilot requirements and conditions but no remedial measures are taken.

To carry out the pilot, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to develop a mechanism to monitor compliance with the law, requirements and conditions for pilot implementation.

Grant, amend, supplement, and revoke telecommunications service business licenses, radio frequency and equipment use licenses for enterprises established in Vietnam in accordance with the laws on telecommunications and radio frequencies.

The Decision clearly states that the pilot organization is only allowed to carry out telecommunications service business activities after completing investment procedures and procedures for granting telecommunications service business licenses and radio frequency use licenses.

This is to ensure compliance with the provisions of the law on telecommunications, radio frequencies, relevant legal provisions and the contents, requirements and conditions of the pilot as prescribed.

The pilot organization is responsible for implementing the proposed contents and providing Starlink satellite Internet services in Vietnam (supporting essential connection programs; cooperating with Vietnamese enterprises to distribute hardware equipment and provide services to users; investing in the supply chain and building ground infrastructure).

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thu-tuong-dong-y-cho-spacex-duoc-thi-diem-dich-vu-internet-ve-tinh-starlink-2025032612010695.htm