Vietnam allows pilot testing of billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service

According to Decision 659 dated March 23 of the Prime Minister, billionaire Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Group has been granted a controlled pilot license to deploy Starlink satellite internet service in Vietnam.

The internet satellite receiver is called Starlink. Photo: SpaceX

SpaceX is allowed to pilot controlled investment in telecommunications services with network infrastructure, a type of satellite telecommunications network using low-orbit satellite technology in Vietnam on the principle of ensuring national defense and security, with no limit on the percentage of shares owned, capital contributions or contribution ratios of foreign investors.

Along with that, a pilot program will be launched to grant licenses to use radio frequencies and equipment to telecommunications service providers using low-orbit satellite technology, replacing the granting of licenses to use radio frequencies and equipment to terminal users.

The pilot implementation of telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology will be carried out within 5 years from the date the enterprise established by the pilot organization in Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as the enterprise established in Vietnam) is granted a license to conduct telecommunications services, and must end before January 1, 2031.

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

Accordingly, fixed satellite services (including internet access services; leased channel services for mobile receiving and transmitting stations) and mobile satellite services (including internet access services at sea; internet access services on airplanes) are types of SpaceX telecommunications services that will be piloted in Vietnam nationwide.

The maximum number of SpaceX subscribers that will be piloted in Vietnam is 600,000, including the total number of telecommunications service subscribers of enterprises established in Vietnam and of telecommunications enterprises reselling services of enterprises established in Vietnam.

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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 is responsible for guiding and inspecting 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.

The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security are responsible for organizing the implementation of measures to inspect and control the pilot implementation activities to ensure national defense and security.

Starlink is a project of the space technology company SpaceX (founded by technology billionaire Elon Musk), using satellites launched into orbit to provide global internet coverage.

In Southeast Asia, there are currently 4 countries using Starlink satellite internet service, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and East Timor. Globally, Starlink is present in 116 countries and territories.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/viet-nam-cho-phep-thi-diem-dich-vu-internet-ve-tinh-starlink-cua-ti-phu-elon-musk-196250326125407986.htm