Starlink is about to be licensed in Vietnam

SpaceX has almost completed the licensing process for Starlink service in Vietnam. Amazon Kuiper is also in the same process.

At a press conference on December 1 of the Ministry of Science and Technology , Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, said that Starlink has almost completed the licensing process. The company plans to resubmit the application this week after adding the required information.

The representative of the Telecommunications Department shared the spirit of the management agency is to consider granting the license as soon as possible. The Ministry of Science and Technology will coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security , the Ministry of National Defense and the Civil Aviation Authority to evaluate the documents.

"Starlink has almost reached the final step of providing services in Vietnam," Vietnamnet quoted Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, at the press conference on the morning of December 1. Photo: Ministry of Science and Technology .

Starlink received a pilot license in April. This is the first company to grant a pilot license for satellite internet services in Vietnam. To date, SpaceX has launched more than 10,000 satellites. Billionaire Elon Musk's company is providing services in 125 countries with 5 million users.

In addition to Starlink, Amazon Kuiper is also in the process of applying for a similar license. This enterprise has established Amazon Kuiper Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Ho Chi Minh City. On November 24, Amazon completed the additional documents as required by the management agency.

Amazon’s pilot project will be subject to the Prime Minister’s approval. The decision will be based on an assessment of national defense, security, and economic development. If approved, Amazon will proceed with business establishment and investment registration procedures.

Kuiper is building a constellation of 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites. As of August, the company had launched 102. Amazon aims to have at least 50% of the remaining satellites completed by 2026. It plans to launch the service to customers by the end of 2025.

Representatives of the Telecommunications Department assessed that satellite Internet plays an important complementary role to the ground infrastructure. This service ensures communication in low-frequency areas, especially useful in disaster prevention because it does not depend on ground transmission lines.

During the recent storms and floods in Vietnam, the communication system was severely affected. Storm No. 13 caused 906 BTS stations out of a total of 6,307 locations in Gia Lai and Dak Lak to lose communication. After Storm No. 14, this number was 1,202 stations out of a total of 8,742 locations in the three provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Khanh Hoa.

Network operators have implemented many solutions. They adjusted the transmission power of neighboring stations to cover the lost location. Mobile broadcasting vehicles were deployed to the lost location. Basic communication is still guaranteed to 100% of village and hamlet leaders.

However, the service to the people cannot be guaranteed to be as good as usual. Satellite internet can be an important backup solution in these situations.

"Satellite Internet is an important backup channel when storms and floods occur," Mr. Cuong emphasized.

Expert Doan Quang Hoan, Vice President of the Vietnam Radio and Electronics Association, assessed that satellite Internet can quickly cover all areas with low signal strength. However, this service will not have much impact on the domestic telecommunications market. The rate of low signal strength is currently very small, mainly in mountainous and island areas where there is no electricity grid.

In Vietnam, some units have tested Starlink's satellite internet service. At a technology event in late October, held on a cruise ship in the middle of the Saigon River, internet was provided via Starlink at quite fast speeds.

Source: https://znews.vn/starlink-sap-duoc-cap-phep-tai-viet-nam-post1607479.html