Starlink has yet to file an application for the deployment of satellite internet service within Vietnam's territory
Starlink, SpaceX's low-orbit satellite internet system, is set to expand its global reach to Vietnam. The Vietnamese government has approved Starlink for pilot testing, paving the way for potential full operations in the country.
The pilot program, authorised by Decision No. 659 (issued March 23, 2025), allows 100% foreign-owned companies like SpaceX to trial their LEO satellite internet services nationwide. The program may last up to five years, starting from the date the local SpaceX entity obtains its telecommunications license and ending no later than January 1, 2030.
SpaceX is currently completing procedures to establish a 100% foreign-invested business in Vietnam and is expected to submit an application for a telecommunications service license once these steps are finished. According to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), Starlink could officially begin offering services as early as the fourth quarter of 2025, provided that regulatory steps proceed smoothly.
Starlink's satellite internet system consists of 6,750 satellites, orbiting at an altitude of 550 km. The service is already available in over 125 countries and territories and boasts five million users worldwide.
The investment by SpaceX in Vietnam is estimated to be around $1.5 billion. In addition to the internet service, SpaceX is planning to expand its presence in Vietnam's healthcare sector, which is undergoing rapid digital transformation.
Vietnam is expected to become the fifth country in Southeast Asia to have Starlink satellite internet. The Authority of Telecommunications is preparing the contents for a licence for Starlink, and once issued, the service can be deployed within three months, according to the MST.
Local telecom players like Viettel are also researching LEO satellite technology but have not announced deployment plans as of August 2025. The Prime Minister has signed off on the pilot program, but SpaceX has not yet submitted its formal licensing documents or investment project registration.
According to Doan Quang Hoan, satellite internet can quickly cover all the signal depressions in Vietnam, which the country is striving to do. With Starlink's potential entry into the Vietnamese market, the country could see significant improvements in internet connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas.
[1] SpaceX's Starlink gets green light for pilot testing in Vietnam [2] Vietnam Approves SpaceX's Starlink for Pilot Testing
[1] The Vietnamese government's approval of SpaceX's Starlink for a pilot program marks a significant step forward for the expansion of low-orbit satellite internet services in the country's industry and technology sector.
[2] As part of this pilot test, which could initially last up to five years, SpaceX is set to utilize its space-and-astronomy expertise to provide satellite internet services, bridging the connectivity gap in rural and remote areas of Vietnam, potentially contributing to the digital transformation of the country's finance and healthcare sectors.
