Policy breakthrough to promote new technologies

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo calls for the development of telecommunications and internet infrastructure to ensure redundancy, safe, and sustainable connectivity through satellites. Therefore, LEO technology (low-Earth orbit satellite technology) is considered a strategic solution for completing telecommunications infrastructure.

However, low-Earth orbit satellite technology does not operate under the traditional model. With a very large number of satellites, global coverage, flexibility, small terminal devices, and low transmission latency, LEO technology requires new regulations to control and ensure national data security. In this context, implementing the service through a controlled pilot mechanism under Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 demonstrates a cautious but proactive approach.

Nguyen Anh Cuong, Deputy Head of the Telecommunications Authority under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said that before granting the licence for pilot satellite internet services, the National Assembly had issued Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15. The resolution stipulates piloting some special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in the development of science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.

After the pilot implementation, Viet Nam will evaluate the results and promulgate a legal framework for the service. Piloting does not mean “loosening management”, but rather represents a risk governance approach. It allows regulatory agencies to assess the practical impacts of new technologies before building a long-term legal framework, while also providing enterprises with a clear legal environment to deploy services and avoid the situation of “learning by doing” in policy gaps.

According to Nguyen Thi Minh Huong, Acting Head of the Frequency Allocation and Licensing Division at the Authority of Radio Frequency Management under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the authority has advised on building and perfecting the legal framework for Starlink to be deployed in Viet Nam.

First, the method of granting licences of radio frequency use has been changed. Instead of granting license for each terminal device, authorities now grant licences to businesses, who provide the service. This mechanism aligns with the reality of LEO systems that may deploy hundreds of thousands of distributed devices across large areas. This policy is specified in Decree No. 88/2025/ND-CP.

Second, the method of determining frequency fees has been reformed. Previously, fees were calculated based on coverage area and bandwidth. Under the new model, fees are linked to market scale, specifically the number of terminal devices. This approach connects technical management with commercial efficiency, reduces financial pressure during the initial investment stage, and encourages enterprises to expand services according to real demand. This regulation is detailed in Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BTC.

At the same time, the national radio frequency spectrum plan has been adjusted to allow non-geostationary satellite systems to communicate with terminal devices on ships and aircraft in the Ku frequency band, ensuring compatibility with international trends.

Ensuring sovereignty over orbital and frequency resources

Starlink’s four gateway stations will be located in Lien Chieu 2 Ward (Da Nang City), Binh Nguyen Commune (Phu Tho Province), Tang Nhon Phu Ward, and Tan Thuan Ward (Ho Chi Minh City).

These gateway stations will operate in the Ka and E frequency bands, both of which have strong potential for use in Viet Nam. However, these bands are shared with other services. Therefore, when granting licences, the Authority of Radio Frequency Management has calculated carefully to avoid interference with existing radio systems and ensure uninterrupted communications. For this reason, the authority has required Starlink to commit that it “must not hinder or adversely affect Viet Nam’s coordination of frequencies and non-geostationary satellite orbits in the future.”

In the context of increasingly crowded space, ensuring autonomy in orbit planning and spectrum allocation is crucial for Viet Nam to develop its own low Earth orbit satellite system, avoiding the risk of orbital conflicts or frequency interference in the long term.

Currently, the average mobile network speed in Viet Nam is about 144 Mb (megabits), while fixed broadband reaches around 200 Mb, and in some key areas speeds may reach 1 Gb. Meanwhile, satellite internet services are expected to provide speeds of approximately 100 Mb, which does not pose a challenge to domestic internet services.

Moreover, mobile network coverage in Viet Nam has already reached 99.8% of the population. The Authority of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Science and Technology is also directing network operators to eliminate remaining coverage gaps. In addition, Viet Nam has implemented a universal telecommunications service programme to ensure that all citizens can access mobile networks. The country is striving to build digital infrastructure comparable to that of advanced nations.

The granting of the licence of the pilot provision of satellite internet services in Viet Nam will contribute as a “piece of the puzzle” to fill the gaps left by traditional telecommunications services. Satellite internet will mainly serve areas where traditional Internet is difficult to deploy, such as airspace, offshore areas, and remote and mountainous regions. It will also provide a backup communication channel in emergency situations affecting terrestrial fixed telecommunications networks, Cuong emphasised.

Regarding Starlink services in Viet Nam, Vu The Binh, Secretary-General of the Viet Nam Internet Association, noted that for the service to succeed, Starlink should pay attention to factors such as support for technology deployment and use, pricing policies, and cooperation with other service providers. These elements will help Starlink develop and meet the demands of users in Viet Nam.

SpaceX’s consideration of Viet Nam as a deployment point for Starlink in Southeast Asia demonstrates the potential of the country’s market and digital infrastructure. If effectively implemented, this could serve as a stepping stone for Viet Nam to move closer to becoming a regional telecommunications connectivity hub.

The licensing of radio frequency use for Starlink also sends a message that Viet Nam offers a transparent, well-regulated legal environment that is open to advanced technologies. This will help attract more international enterprises to invest and transfer technology, thereby contributing to the completion of the national digital infrastructure and strengthening Viet Nam’s competitiveness in the digital economy era.