Starlink has officially launched commercial satellite internet services in Vietnam, opening orders for residential and business customers following regulatory approval to operate under a controlled pilot programme.
Residential plans start at around VND1.13 million, or $43.4, per month for speeds of up to 100 Mbps, while a higher-tier package costs VND1.71 million, or $65.7, per month for speeds above 400 Mbps.
Corporate plans start at VND1.48 million per month.
The launch gives Starlink a commercial presence in its sixth Southeast Asian market, alongside Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Timor-Leste.
Residential hardware starts at around VND8.66 million
Customers can place deposits for residential service through Starlink’s website, with hardware costs starting at approximately VND8.66 million.
The Standard hardware kit and alternative equipment such as the Starlink Mini are priced at roughly $330 to $390 upfront.
The combination of monthly service fees and hardware costs means Starlink is likely to be positioned primarily as a premium connectivity option in areas where conventional fixed broadband is unavailable, unreliable or difficult to deploy.
Pilot programme capped at 600,000 terminals
The commercial rollout follows months of preparation after Vietnam approved Starlink to operate under a controlled trial.
The service is being delivered through Starlink Services Vietnam Co. Ltd., SpaceX’s local operating entity.
The pilot programme is capped at 600,000 user terminals and is scheduled to run through the end of 2030.
Vietnam announced in March 2025 that it would allow SpaceX to operate Starlink on a trial basis while temporarily waiving foreign ownership restrictions for the service.
Four Starlink ground gateway stations have also been authorised in the country.
Vietnam targets remote areas, islands and maritime connectivity
Starlink enters a market where fibre-optic broadband is already widely available and relatively affordable in urban areas.
Its strongest use case is therefore likely to be in locations where terrestrial infrastructure is harder or more expensive to extend.
These include remote communities, islands and maritime vessels, where satellite broadband can provide connectivity without requiring the same last-mile fibre or mobile infrastructure.
Businesses may also use Starlink as a secondary connection for redundancy where continuous internet access is critical.
Local entity established ahead of launch
Starlink Services Vietnam was established in September 2025 with charter capital of VND30 billion, equivalent to around $1.1 million.
Operating through a local entity allows SpaceX to provide services under Vietnamese oversight during the trial period.
The pilot structure also gives regulators an opportunity to assess how low-Earth orbit satellite broadband fits into the country’s wider telecommunications market before any longer-term framework is established.
Southeast Asian footprint continues to expand
Vietnam becomes the sixth Southeast Asian market where Starlink is commercially available.
Its expansion across the region reflects growing demand for satellite connectivity in countries where geography can make nationwide terrestrial coverage difficult.
Island nations, mountainous regions, remote settlements and maritime routes are particularly relevant to low-Earth orbit broadband because satellites can extend coverage without requiring continuous terrestrial infrastructure.
Source: MEA Tech Watch Press Reporter
