Vietnam clears Starlink for satellite internet rollout

Vietnam has approved SpaceX’s Starlink service to operate in the country, granting licences for both fixed and mobile satellite internet. The Ministry of Information and Communications signed off on the move after Starlink met local legal, technical and cybersecurity requirements, including rules on information security and user data.

Starlink will not be allowed to offer services directly to the mass market. Instead, it must work through licensed Vietnamese telecom operators, who will manage customer access and integrate Starlink connectivity into their own services. The government framed the decision as a way to extend coverage to remote, maritime and hard-to-serve areas, while keeping regulatory control over infrastructure and data flows.