Starlink satellite Internet services near final approval in Vietnam

He confirmed that Starlink has completed the key steps required to offer services in the Southeast Asian country.

The company has submitted its licensing dossier, and the ministry has sought feedback from relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense.

Also, the authority has sent the service supplier a list of issues requiring clarification, he said.

Once these are addressed, the authority will review the final dossier and move toward granting a license as soon as possible.

The official underlined that satellite Internet will serve as an important complement to terrestrial telecommunications networks, enhancing communication resilience.

In particular, satellite connectivity can provide a crucial backup channel for maintaining links between BTS stations during emergency response efforts in natural disasters such as storms and floods.

Earlier, at the Ministry of Science and Technology’s mid-year review conference, Deputy Minister Pham Duc Long stated that Vietnam aims to issue Starlink’s operating license shortly after the company completes its investment procedures and establishes a legal entity within the country.

As per this timeline, the services could be launched in the fourth quarter of 2025.

SpaceX’s Starlink low Earth orbit satellite telecommunications services consist of about 6,750 satellites operating at an altitude of 550 km.

Starlink already serves more than 125 countries and territories, with around five million users.

The system’s relatively low orbit, far below the 35,000 km of geostationary satellites, significantly reduces latency and delivers higher data speeds compared with traditional satellite Internet.

Once licensing is finalized, Vietnam will become the fifth country in Southeast Asia to host Starlink satellite Internet services, following the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste.