ietnam is planning to adopt rules that would allow Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide satellite internet services in the country while keeping full ownership
of any subsidiary.
Those new changes come as a way of launching in Vietnam for Starlink, also following protracted talks with its parent company SpaceX, reported a government official. This move represents a sudden shift and can also be seen as “an olive branch” to SpaceX amid tension in Vietnam about tariff threats from US President Donald Trump, according to a source close to the matter.
The person mentioned said, “This is a demonstration from the Vietnamese side that they can play the transactional diplomacy game if the Trump administration wants that." However, all persons declined to make their identities known in order to speak more freely.
SpaceX attempts to enter Vietnam’s market were put on hold at the end of 2023 after the communist-run country, took the decision to decline the ban on foraging control satellite internet providers.
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The draft that has been worked on is set to be adopted by the parliament in an extraordinary sitting on Wednesday. This will allow a foreign country to control operations for internet providers that have a network of low-orbit satellites. The draft included a 12-page resolution that seeks "to remove obstacles in scientific, technological, and innovation activities.”
However, SpaceX and Vietnam did not reply to the request for comment.
SpaceX was in the last period of time also expanding its network of suppliers for Vietnam. Even more so, the Vietnamese government made a statement saying that Musk’s company wants to invest $1.5 billion in the country.
By
Adam Brown
•
February 18, 2025 12:15 PM
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