The equipment, installed by local telecom major FPT Telecom in partnership with SpaceX's satellite unit Starlink, was formally accepted last Wednesday. Hai Phong becomes one of the early localities in Vietnam to finalize the infrastructure rollout, alongside places such as Hue city and Thanh Hoa province.

On Wednesday, billionaire Elon Musk posted on social media platform X that “Starlink brings Internet access to remote places,” sharing a report on cooperation between Hai Phong authorities and Starlink to bring satellite internet service to remote islands.

The deployment includes 10 Starlink hardware kits and six months of complimentary high-speed internet service. The initiative aims to provide local administrative and emergency response units with stable, high-speed connectivity capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions.

The sites are equipped with Starlink's Standard 4X terminal kit, weighing 2.9 kilograms and operating at an average power consumption of 75 to 100 watts. Paired with a Wi-Fi 6 Router 3, the hardware is built with waterproof capabilities and rated to function in wind speeds exceeding 96 kilometers per hour.

Han Duc Bien, director of FPT Telecom’s non-terrestrial solutions center, said satellite connectivity would provide backup telecommunications infrastructure for the two special zones. Combining Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology with FPT Telecom’s 24/7 technical support would help local authorities maintain communications during emergencies and support the development of the local digital economy, he said.

Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX, the aerospace company owned by Musk. Its network connects user terminals to satellites in low Earth orbit, which relay data through ground stations to provide internet access.

Starlink is the first foreign company authorized to pilot satellite internet services in Vietnam. It began offering services in the domestic market in August 2026. In the initial rollout, Starlink and its partners are working with local authorities to extend coverage to areas with weak or no mobile signals.

The push into Hai Phong aligns with a broader national campaign to bridge digital divides. Vietnam currently has 273 villages and hamlets with inadequate mobile coverage, including 82 without access to grid electricity. Another 44 locations, mainly schools, healthcare facilities, and areas with challenging terrain, suffer from unstable connectivity.

A September report by the Central Steering Committee for Science and Technology Development, Innovation, and Digital Transformation called for priority locations to receive coverage by October 30.

FPT Telecom is Starlink’s authorized distributor in Vietnam. In addition to supplying and installing equipment, the company provides connectivity consulting, integration with existing infrastructure, and system configurations tailored to the operating conditions of local authorities and businesses.