Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung has signed and issued Decision No. 659/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on allowing a pilot program with control of the implementation of telecommunications services using low-range satellite technology without limiting the share ownership ratio, capital contribution ratio or contribution ratio of foreign investors.
According to the decision, the Prime Minister allows a pilot of the above service. The pilot organization is Space exploration technologies Group ( Space SpaceX), the US is allowed to pilot the following contents:
The pilot includes controlling investment in telecommunications service business with network infrastructure, satellite telecommunications networks using low-range satellite technology in Vietnam on the principle of ensuring national defense and security, including not limiting the proportion of ownership of shares, capital contributions or contribution rates of foreign investors.
Piloting the granting of licenses for the use of frequency and radio equipment to enterprises providing telecommunications services using low-range reality satellite technology to replace the granting of licenses for the use of frequency and radio equipment to users of terminal equipment.
The pilot implementation will be carried out within 5 years from the date the enterprise established by the pilot organization in Vietnam is granted a telecommunications service business license and must end before January 1, 2031.
The Prime Minister's decision also clearly states that pilot organizations and enterprises established in Vietnam must commit to ensuring compliance with requirements and conditions when implementing the pilot, including requirements on the type of telecommunications services deployed; scope of implementation; maximum number of subscribers; frequency of use and especially requirements to ensure national defense and security.
The type of telecommunications services that will be piloted nationwide includes: Satellite fixed service ( Internet access service; dedicated subscription channel service for mobile receiving and broadcasting stations); satellite mobile service ( Internet access service at sea; Internet access service on airplanes).
The maximum number of subscribers to be piloted is 600,000 subscribers, including the total number of telecommunications service subscribers mentioned above of enterprises established in Vietnam and of telecommunications enterprises reselling services of enterprises established in Vietnam.
The decision also clearly states that pilot organizations and enterprises established in Vietnam must terminate the pilot and have their telecommunications service business licenses, frequency and radio equipment licenses revoked if they fall into one of the following cases:
Including cases where telecommunications licenses and radio frequency licenses are revoked according to the law on telecommunications and radio frequency.
Failure to comply with or violate one of the requirements and conditions of the pilot as prescribed has been notified by competent state agencies (Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security) but there are no remedial measures.
The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security organize the implementation of measures to inspect and control pilot implementation activities to ensure national defense and security.
