SpaceX is building a series of Starlink ground stations in Vietnam.

According to Reuters, SpaceX is setting up a Starlink ground station in Da Nang, which could be operational in May or June, with plans to build up to 15 stations nationwide after receiving pilot approval.

SpaceX is preparing a ground station in Vietnam for its Starlink satellites and plans to build more, two sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters . This move signals the possibility of an early launch of Starlink service in Vietnam and could assist authorities in managing internet traffic.

According to Decision 659 dated March 23rd by the Prime Minister , SpaceX, the provider of the Starlink satellite internet service, has been granted permission to conduct a controlled pilot program for deploying telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology in Vietnam. The pilot program will last five years from the date of issuance of the telecommunications service business license and must conclude before January 1st, 2031.

Starlink service has been authorized for a pilot program in Vietnam, according to Decision 659 dated March 23rd by the Prime Minister. Photo: Starlink .

According to Reuters , SpaceX's ground station could be built and operational as early as May or June in Da Nang city, and could be part of a network of up to 15 stations nationwide.

Starlink operates in over 100 countries and territories, but does not disclose the specific number of ground stations. Not every country has ground stations, which are used to communicate with the satellite and relay data to users.

Starlink Installation Pros, a company specializing in installing Starlink services, states on its website that Starlink has approximately 150 ground stations globally, nearly half of which are in the United States. However, this figure has not been verified by SpaceX. The company also has no affiliation with SpaceX.

The maximum number of SpaceX subscribers that will be included in the pilot program in Vietnam is 600,000, comprising the total number of telecommunications service subscribers of businesses established in Vietnam and of telecommunications businesses that resell services of businesses established in Vietnam.

The Prime Minister's decision also clearly outlines the requirements and conditions that SpaceX and businesses established in Vietnam must commit to complying with when conducting pilot projects, including requirements regarding the type of telecommunications services to be deployed; the scope of deployment; the maximum number of subscribers; the frequency used; and especially requirements to ensure national defense and security.

Accordingly, fixed satellite services (including Internet access services; leased line services for mobile base stations) and mobile satellite services (including Internet access at sea; Internet access on aircraft) are the types of telecommunications services that SpaceX will pilot nationwide in Vietnam.

According to a source, Starlink will invest approximately $3 million to build ground stations in Vietnam. In September 2024, during General Secretary To Lam's visit to the US, SpaceX Senior Vice President Tim Hughes pledged a $1.5 billion investment in Vietnam.

Source: https://znews.vn/spacex-xay-hang-loat-tram-mat-dat-starlink-o-viet-nam-post1542521.html