04 April 2025
Vietnam has granted SpaceX regulatory approval to establish at least one ground station in the country as part of the upcoming Starlink pilot offering. This initiative aims to optimize network traffic while allowing the government to maintain oversight and control over the data transmitted through the service.
According to a Reuters report citing a decision from the prime minister on March 23, the Vietnamese government has requested that SpaceX set up the ground station in Da Nang. The report indicates that the station could be operational as early as May or June 2023, with Starlink planning to invest approximately $3 million for its construction. While regulatory approval has only been granted for the Da Nang facility, sources suggest that Starlink may ultimately establish a network of between ten and 15 ground stations across Vietnam.
The directive from the Vietnamese prime minister states that all Starlink traffic must route through this gateway, which is intended to facilitate government control over the network. The directive also outlines requirements for data storage, user identification, and the suspension of services on security grounds.
