26-9-2024 (HANOI) SpaceX has unveiled plans for a substantial $1.5 billion investment in the Southeast Asian nation’s satellite internet infrastructure. This ambitious proposal was disclosed during high-level talks between Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam and Tim Hughes, SpaceX’s Senior Vice President, in New York on 25th September.
Hughes, representing the world’s leading spacecraft and satellite services corporation, outlined SpaceX’s vision for expanding its Starlink project into Vietnam. “Over the past five years, we’ve successfully deployed more than 6,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, enabling us to provide Starlink internet service to nearly any location on the globe,” Hughes explained.
The Starlink initiative, which aims to create a global internet coverage network using orbital satellites, has garnered significant attention worldwide for its potential to bridge digital divides in remote and underserved areas.
President To Lam expressed enthusiasm for SpaceX’s investment proposal, viewing it as a promising first step towards broader cooperation. “Vietnam recognises digital transformation as a crucial driver propelling our nation into a new era of development,” he stated, underlining the alignment between SpaceX’s plans and Vietnam’s national priorities.
The Vietnamese government is currently evaluating SpaceX’s proposal in detail. President To Lam has called for close coordination between SpaceX and relevant Vietnamese agencies to ensure a smooth and efficient investment preparation process. He also highlighted the potential for Starlink services to bolster Vietnam’s disaster response capabilities in the future.
Hughes, echoing Vietnam’s goal of universal internet access, affirmed SpaceX’s commitment to supporting this ambitious plan. He expressed hope for continued backing from the Vietnamese government and relevant ministries to initiate the cooperation process swiftly.
This latest development follows a previous meeting between SpaceX and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on 6th September, where the corporation first expressed its readiness to introduce Starlink to Vietnam. Hughes had emphasised the need for Vietnam to prepare the necessary infrastructure to maximise the project’s effectiveness and contribute to nationwide internet coverage.
SpaceX, founded by tech magnate Elon Musk, first broached the idea of deploying Starlink in Vietnam during a meeting between Hughes and Prime Minister Chinh in New York in September 2023. At that time, the focus was on addressing signal “blackspots” across the country.
The expansion of Starlink into Southeast Asia began in early 2023, with services launched in the Philippines and Malaysia. While several other countries in the region are slated for coverage in 2024, Vietnam and Thailand are currently listed on the service’s website as awaiting approval or without a specific timeline.
On the same day as the SpaceX talks, President To Lam also held meetings with leaders from AES Energy Corporation and Pacifico Energy Corporation, further underscoring Vietnam’s commitment to diversifying its energy sector and fostering international partnerships.
In his discussion with Juan Ignacio Rubiolo, Senior Vice President of AES Energy Corporation, President To Lam commended the corporation’s successful investments in Vietnam. He encouraged AES to maintain close coordination with Vietnamese partners to ensure legal compliance in project implementation. The President also expressed support for importing liquefied petroleum gas from the US to help balance trade between the two nations.
Similarly, in talks with Nate Franklin, founder and Chairman of Pacifico Energy Group, President To Lam praised the company’s contributions to Vietnam’s energy sector. He urged Pacifico Energy to accelerate ongoing projects and expressed hope for future expansions in the country.
