According to VNA, on April 10, within the framework of his visit and work in the US, Central Party Committee member and Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc presented the decision to pilot the provision of Starlink satellite Internet service in Vietnam to SpaceX Aerospace Technology Group.
At the meeting with Mr. Tim Hughes, Senior Vice President of SpaceX, Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam welcomes and creates favorable conditions for businesses to invest in the high-tech sector.
Starlink is a service deployed by SpaceX - a corporation founded by technology billionaire Elon Musk - with the goal of providing broadband Internet globally through a low-altitude rotation satellite system. It is expected that about 30,000 satellites will be launched at an altitude of 550km, forming a network covering the entire Earth.
The outstanding advantage of Starlink is the ability to provide Internet to remote areas, remote areas, islands or places where ground-based telecommunications infrastructure is still limited. This technology is considered a practical solution to shorten the digital gap between domestic regions.
Previously, on March 23, the Vietnamese Government issued Decision No. 659/QD-TTg allowing SpaceX to pilot Starlink satellite Internet service in Vietnam.
According to the decision, the pilot period will last for 5 years and end before January 1, 2031. The total number of subscribers is capped at 600,000, and SpaceX must comply with strict requirements related to security and defense.
The pilot license for SpaceX to operate in Vietnam is not only to take advantage of Starlink's technological potential in expanding Internet coverage, but also part of the strategy to attract foreign investment in the technology and national digital transformation sector.
Access to high-quality Internet services from space is expected to contribute to promoting the digital economy, distance education and many other public services in areas with a lack of connectivity.
Through this pilot project, Vietnam demonstrates its determination to proactively access advanced technologies, creating conditions for people in all areas to have equal access to digital infrastructure, thereby narrowing the development gap between regions.
