SpaceX to launch Starlink in Vietnam by late 2025

SpaceX plans to launch its Starlink satellite internet services in Vietnam in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a government official cited in local media.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long said the ministry will license pilot services once SpaceX fulfills its investment requirements and establishes a legal entity in Vietnam.

The company is working with Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance to set up a wholly-owned unit in the country.

In March, the Vietnamese government said SpaceX could begin trial services without restrictions on foreign ownership.

This trial is scheduled to continue until the end of 2030.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Vietnam’s regulatory overhaul opens doors for global tech giants

SpaceX’s entry into Vietnam comes amid a significant transformation of the country’s telecommunications regulations.

In January 2025, Vietnam implemented Decree 163/2024/ND-CP, which modernized the telecommunications framework by eliminating requirements for offshore service providers to partner with local companies 1.

This regulatory shift was followed by the new Telecommunications Law allowing 100% foreign ownership of non-traditional telecom services, marking a substantial policy change in a sector where foreign participation was historically restricted 2.

Vietnam’s March 2025 announcement to fast-track Starlink’s licensing process, followed by this planned Q4 launch, demonstrates how the country is putting its new investment-friendly policies into practice 3.

The trial period extending through 2030 suggests a measured approach to opening the market while maintaining regulatory oversight, balancing innovation with national interests.

2️⃣ Starlink enters a competitive but growing Vietnamese internet landscape

SpaceX will be competing in a market dominated by three major providers, Viettel, VNPT, and FPT, which currently control most of Vietnam’s fiber optic infrastructure 4.

Vietnam already has impressive connectivity statistics, with mobile broadband coverage exceeding 99% and internet penetration expected to reach 85% by 2025, serving over 76 million active users 5.