SpaceX has secured approval to launch its Starlink satellite broadband service in Vietnam, after receiving licences from the government to provide both fixed and mobile satellite services.
State media reported that the Authority of Telecommunications, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, granted Starlink permission to operate, alongside a separate licence from the Radio Frequency Department covering spectrum and radio equipment use.
Starlink plans to deploy four gateway stations in the initial phase, with capacity to serve up to 600,000 users nationwide. A commercial launch date has not yet been disclosed.
Vietnam’s regulator said the licensing framework is designed to protect spectrum resources while enabling the rollout of new technologies.
The move follows a decision in March last year by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to approve a five-year pilot scheme allowing LEO satellite providers to operate without being constrained by foreign ownership limits. The pilot is due to run until the end of 2030.
LEO satellite services are typically positioned as a complement to terrestrial networks, extending connectivity to remote and underserved areas.
In Southeast Asia, Starlink is already active in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, and is working towards launches in Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.
