Starlink Officially Licensed to Provide Satellite Internet Services in Vietnam

According to information from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Authority of Telecommunications has granted a license to Starlink Services Vietnam Co., Ltd. to provide telecommunications services with network infrastructure, specifically fixed satellite telecommunications services.

Starlink is a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet system, with 6,750 satellites operating at an altitude of approximately 550 km. The service was previously available in more than 125 countries and territories, serving around 5 million users.

Once the service deployment is completed, Vietnam will become the fifth country in Southeast Asia to have Starlink satellite internet, following the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste.

At the same time, the Authority of Radio Frequency Management has officially granted Starlink a license to use radio frequencies and radio equipment for its services.

The licensing means that Starlink can legally deploy ground-based receiving and transmitting infrastructure in Vietnam, in full compliance with regulations governing radio frequency use. The service must ensure that it does not cause interference to existing radio communication networks, while contributing to the sustainable development of the telecommunications market and expanding satellite internet connectivity.

This marks an important step toward completing the legal framework and promoting Vietnam’s national digital infrastructure.

To facilitate the licensing process, the Ministry of Science and Technology has also sent official notices to the Departments of Science and Technology in localities across the country to coordinate regulatory oversight in accordance with the law.

Previously, in April 2025, Starlink received a pilot service license from Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, becoming the first foreign company to receive approval from Vietnam to pilot satellite internet services.

At the Ministry of Science and Technology’s conference reviewing the first six months of 2025, Deputy Minister Pham Duc Long stated that the ministry aimed to grant Starlink the necessary licenses immediately after the company completed its investment procedures and established a legal entity in Vietnam, allowing it to officially launch its services in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Because low-Earth orbit satellites operate at an altitude of approximately 550 km—far lower than geostationary satellites, which orbit at around 35,000 km—Starlink’s shorter transmission distance helps reduce latency and provides better data transmission speeds compared with traditional satellite internet services.