Pilot telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology

According to the Decision, the Prime Minister allows a controlled pilot implementation of telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology without limiting the percentage of foreign investors' share ownership, capital contribution or contribution ratio.

Specifically, the pilot organization is Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), USA, which is piloting the following contents:

Piloting controlled investment in telecommunications services with network infrastructure, satellite telecommunications network type using low-orbit satellite technology in Vietnam on the principle of ensuring national defense and security, in which there is no limit on the percentage of share ownership, capital contribution or contribution ratio of foreign investors as prescribed in Point a, Clause 1, Article 13 of Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 dated February 19, 2025 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in science, technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

Piloting the issuance of licenses to use radio frequencies and equipment for telecommunications service providers using low-orbit satellite technology instead of issuing licenses to use radio frequencies and equipment for terminal users as prescribed in Point b, Clause 1, Article 13 of Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 dated February 19, 2025 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in science, technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

The Decision clearly states that the pilot implementation of telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology shall be carried out within 05 years from the date the enterprise established by the pilot organization in Vietnam (enterprise established in Vietnam) 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, including 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.

Accordingly, the types of telecommunications services that will be piloted nationwide 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 mentioned above of enterprises established in Vietnam and of telecommunications enterprises reselling services of enterprises established in Vietnam.

In addition, the Decision also clearly states that pilot organizations and enterprises established in Vietnam must terminate the pilot and have their telecommunications service business licenses, radio frequency and equipment use licenses revoked if they fall into one of the following cases:

Belonging to cases of revocation of telecommunications license, radio frequency license according to the law on telecommunications and radio frequencies.

Failure to comply with or violation of one of the pilot requirements and conditions as prescribed, as notified by a competent state agency (Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security) but without remedial measures.

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; to grant, amend, supplement and revoke telecommunications service business licenses, licenses to use radio frequencies and equipment for enterprises established in Vietnam in accordance with the law on telecommunications and radio frequencies.

The Ministry of Science and Technology guides and inspects the implementation of telecommunications service business activities during the pilot implementation process to ensure compliance with the provisions of the law on telecommunications, radio frequencies, contents of telecommunications service business licenses, radio frequency use licenses and regulations in Decision 659/QD-TTg.

The Ministry of Science and Technology shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on adjusting the pilot contents if necessary, terminating the pilot, and synthesizing and reporting to the Government on the implementation of the pilot.

The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security shall organize the implementation of measures to inspect and control the pilot implementation activities to ensure national defense and security.

The Decision clearly states that the pilot organization may only carry out telecommunications service business activities after completing investment procedures and procedures for granting telecommunications service business licenses and radio frequency use licenses in accordance with the provisions of law; ensuring 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 in the Project on investment and provision of 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).

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/thi-diem-dich-vu-vien-thong-su-dung-cong-nghe-ve-tinh-quy-dao-tam-thap.html