Early completion of satellite Internet service testing license

Photo caption — This image from video shows the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 60 SpaceX Starlink satellites leaving the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida (US). Illustration photo: AP/TTXVN

Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 issued by the National Assembly is a step to institutionalize Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation. In particular, the pilot content of controlled telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology is considered a strategic step to modernize telecommunications infrastructure, improve connectivity in hard-to-reach areas, where there are limitations in the development of terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure and promote Vietnam's position in the global technology wave.

Currently, there are two foreign corporations requesting to be licensed to pilot the provision of telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology: SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper. Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications ( Ministry of Science and Technology ) said that in the spirit of providing the highest level of support to businesses, after receiving the dossier, the Ministry of Science and Technology will coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to speed up the licensing process.

Specifically, Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong informed that Starlink has almost reached the final step of providing services in Vietnam. Based on the SpaceX Group's Project on Investment and Provision of Starlink Satellite Internet Services in Vietnam, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 659/QD-TTg dated March 23, 2025, allowing SpaceX Group to pilot the deployment of low-orbit satellite telecommunications services without any limit on the foreign investment ratio. The Telecommunications Department has guided the enterprise in preparing a dossier to request a license. After Starlink submitted the dossier once, the Ministry of Science and Technology coordinated with relevant ministries and branches such as the Ministry of Public Security, National Defense, and Construction (Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam) to guide the enterprise to clarify a number of points. It is expected that the enterprise will complete and resubmit the dossier to request a license in the first week of December 2025.

Providing information about Amazon's Kuiper service, Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong said that Amazon Kuiper Vietnam Co., Ltd. has sent a letter to the Prime Minister proposing to participate in the Controlled Pilot Program for providing low-orbit satellite telecommunications services in Vietnam. Pursuant to Article 13 of Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 and Article 20 of Decree No. 88/2025/ND-CP, the Ministry of Science and Technology has coordinated with the Ministries of National Defense, Public Security, and Finance to study and evaluate the proposal documents of the enterprise. Based on the opinions of the Ministries, the Department of Telecommunications has notified and requested the enterprise to supplement and clarify some contents in the documents.

On November 24, Amazon Kuiper Vietnam Co., Ltd. resubmitted additional documents, clarifying the contents according to the opinions of the ministries. The Ministry of Science and Technology has transferred the company's updated documents to the relevant ministries and branches for coordination in consideration and settlement according to regulations. Amazon's pilot documents will need to be decided by the Prime Minister, based on an assessment of national defense and security and economic development. If approved in principle, Amazon will proceed with the procedures for establishing a business, registering for investment and applying for a telecommunications license, similar to Starlink.

On August 6, Amazon announced that it had submitted an application to participate in the pilot implementation of providing telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology. The group has established Amazon Kuiper Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Ho Chi Minh City. During a working session with Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long on August 26, Mr. Gonzalo de Dios, Director of Global Licensing for the Kuiper project, affirmed that Vietnam has a special position in the group's development strategy. The Kuiper project is a strategic initiative of the group to build a system of more than 3,200 low-orbit satellites, providing high-speed Internet (up to 400 Mbps for individuals, 1 Gbps for businesses), low latency, focusing on unserved or underserved areas such as remote areas and islands.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong added that satellite telecommunications services in general and low-orbit technology satellite telecommunications services in particular such as SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper have wide coverage, can play a complementary role to fixed and mobile terrestrial telecommunications services of domestic network operators; especially in remote, border and island areas; especially in natural disasters and catastrophes when terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure is affected. More importantly, this can be an effective complementary channel to backup transmission connections between BTS stations to serve rescue and restore communication during storms and floods.

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