SUMMARY
- Vietnam authorizes Starlink to deploy four gateway stations and 600,000 terminals
- License mandates no interference with domestic radio networks
- Move supports rural connectivity as Vietnam deepens US economic ties
HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam has granted a license to Starlink to operate satellite internet services in the country, allowing the company to deploy gateway stations and up to 600,000 user terminals, the national radio frequency regulator said Saturday.
The Authority of Radio Frequency Management said local unit Starlink Services Vietnam Co. is authorized to install four gateway stations nationwide.
The license requires the company to ensure its network causes no interference with existing radio communications infrastructure.
The approval marks Vietnam’s most significant step toward integrating low Earth orbit satellite broadband into its national connectivity strategy.
While nearly 80 percent of Vietnam’s roughly 100 million people use the internet, coverage gaps remain in mountainous and remote provinces, according to the Vietnam Internet Network Information Center.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, provides broadband via thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, reducing latency compared with traditional geostationary systems.
Vietnam has prioritized digital transformation under its National Digital Transformation Program through 2025, aiming to expand broadband access and strengthen cybersecurity oversight.
Foreign telecom providers must comply with spectrum management and data localization requirements.
The licensing comes as Hanoi and Washington negotiate a trade agreement after the United States imposed 20 percent tariffs on certain Vietnamese exports last year.
Vietnamese President To Lam is expected to travel to Washington this week for meetings linked to bilateral cooperation.
Nguyen Thanh Hai, director general of the Authority of Radio Frequency Management, said the licensing decision followed technical evaluations to ensure compatibility with domestic spectrum allocations.
Le Dang Doanh, former adviser to Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment, said satellite broadband could accelerate digital commerce in underserved regions but regulatory oversight would remain strict to protect national networks.
“Satellite internet can support economic inclusion in remote communities,” Doanh said. “However, compliance with Vietnamese telecommunications law is essential.”
Pham Thu Trang, a technology policy analyst at the Hanoi based Institute for Digital Society, said rural schools and small enterprises could benefit if pricing remains competitive.
“Affordability will determine whether satellite services truly narrow the digital divide,” she said. A spokesperson for SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Implementation timelines and pricing structures have not been disclosed. Authorities said technical deployment will proceed in phases under regulatory supervision.
The decision positions Vietnam among a growing number of Southeast Asian nations permitting Starlink operations as governments seek to balance digital expansion with spectrum control and trade diplomacy.
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