U.S.-based tech giant SpaceX is poised to invest in and offer its Starlink satellite internet services in Vietnam, according to a senior company executive, as the Southeast Asian nation strives to accelerate its digital economy.
Tim Hughes, Senior Vice President of Global Business and Government Affairs at SpaceX, stated during a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi that the company’s services would benefit sectors such as education, training, and disaster prevention.
Hughes commended Vietnam’s favorable business environment and suggested the country prepare the necessary infrastructure to ensure the effectiveness of the project, aiming to extend internet access to 100% of the population.
PM Chinh welcomed SpaceX’s investment intentions, emphasizing Vietnam’s goal of building a digital government, economy, and society. He assured that Vietnam has the required infrastructure and supportive policies to facilitate efficient operations for foreign companies like SpaceX.
The prime minister also urged SpaceX to collaborate with relevant Vietnamese ministries to ensure the project complies with local laws and guarantees network security. He encouraged additional partnerships in areas where both SpaceX and Vietnam have potential, including science, technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.
Additionally, Chinh highlighted the importance of technology transfer, workforce development, and expanding partnerships with Vietnamese enterprises to enhance their participation in global value chains.
Earlier, during a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, Hughes discussed global progress in satellite internet services and SpaceX’s business prospects in Vietnam. Hughes noted that SpaceX has invested over $11 billion in its satellite network, comprising more than 6,500 satellites, and has been providing Starlink services since October 2020.
Currently, the company serves nearly three million clients across over 100 countries, including ASEAN nations such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Hughes expressed interest in bringing broadband services to underserved areas in Vietnam, similar to those provided in the U.S. and Canada.
Minister Hung praised SpaceX’s proposals and outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to expand internet access to remote and underprivileged areas.