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Huge!
/ - @OceanBeach92107

I successfully placed my $9 USD deposit via the Starlink website, using my address in Vietnam.

I also used my T-Mobile USA phone number but I'm guessing I could have used my Viettel number.

They accepted my Discover card; one of the cards without international transaction fees that I prefer to use here in VN whenever possible.

Interesting. but then vietnam's good already. Would it be cheaper than the local market pricing ?

Still unclear how /when Starlink will start and if it will be in cooperation with the Operators, however likely not the same model as in US (direct to cell) where you can use exiting 4G/5G terminal supporting 2600MHz, this as this spectrum is reserved for the Operators.

Likely you need the Star-link terminals  ....which come with a cost     

Yes, Starlink's pilot program in Vietnam is designed to cooperate with local operators. The plan includes partnering with Vietnamese companies to distribute hardware and deliver services to customers. This collaboration aims to ensure smooth integration of Starlink's satellite technology into Vietnam's telecommunications infrastructure.

The program also allows local mobile operators to use relevant radio frequencies and equipment to access Starlink's low Earth orbit satellites. This approach aligns with Vietnam's goal of boosting connectivity and attracting international investment in the telecom sector.

@aremuabisoye

my internet is not always good.

@Contem talk

  Would be much nicer to hear your actual thoughts on this rather than that of AI generate text.

I'm not sure what the service offers beyond working in places without service.

What are the advantages to consider?

I'm not sure what the service offers beyond working in places without service.What are the advantages to consider? - @Dannyroc3

Sharks can't

I'm not sure what the service offers beyond working in places without service.
What are the advantages to consider? - @Dannyroc3

You might also consider the disadvantages.

Starlink is available to me but:

1. it's far too expensive to consider unless I was in the middle of nowhere and absolutly nothing else was available
2. I don't trust Musk with my data
3. I don't trust Musk not to shut it down if his political goals clash with customer service (See Ukraine)

@Fred

The price point is a big sticking point for many but I imagine the price will fall as the price of every other such product or service falls due to a bigger customer base and the price to deliver the product falls.

It seems you just don't like Musk which is a perfectly good reason to decline business with any company... but concerns

about trusting him with Data or cutting people off seems like quite a stretch unless you also decline to do business with thousands of other companies that have had data hacked, sold, and handed to the govt with no legal requirement to do so.

Naturally, I would wonder if you avoid services from companies that have *already* terminated people's bank accounts, credit card use, and online services. They have already done that to thousands of people.

While I don't do a lot of homework on it, if I am aware of a company that declined service to anyone for their viewpoints, even if I very much disagree, I would avoid that company if possible. I am just wondering how consistent you might be on these valid principles that I think we share.

I'm not sure what the service offers beyond working in places without service.What are the advantages to consider? - @Dannyroc3 You might also consider the disadvantages.Starlink is available to me but:it's far too expensive to consider unless I was in the middle of nowhere and absolutly nothing else was availableI don't trust Musk with my dataI don't trust Musk not to shut it down if his political goals clash with customer service (See Ukraine) - @Fred

Seriously? This is the VIETNAM forum, in a country where the Communist government closely regulates all internet activity and associated industries and has complete and total access to your information.

It's not a secret that you post from a mindset based on TDS, so it's understandable that your valid opinion is a reactionary response with a nexus in that personal philosophy.

But staying on topic with this particular thread in this particular country's forum, the advent of Starlink access here (previously expressly prohibited by the government) is a huge advantage for people wanting more privacy and more freedom in their use of the internet.

Perhaps it won't make much difference to the average Internet user such as Danny, and people such as him will almost certainly continue to be satisfied with the Viettel system that is owned by the military here.

But as far as "expats" in general are concerned--especially the so-called "digital nomads"--this is going to prove to be a huge game changer.

For myself, My uses of the internet here are largely for premium entertainment streaming purposes and global exploitation of my music business interests.

It's definitely worth it to me to break free of the unreliable internet connections here which are frequently subject to decreases in speed as well as major interruptions from frequent under sea cable breakage, plus government censorship of certain key global websites as well as some websites being unwilling to open traffic to anyone whose ISP is in Vietnam.

it's unfathomable to me that I would ever trust the government of Vietnam and industries within Vietnam more than I trust Elon Musk now.

I think it's reasonable to compare this development to the shift from only using telephones that were wired into the telephone system, to The adoption of cellular telephone systems.

I would guess out of a hundred of my contacts there are probably only one or two people who still communicate via landline.

Am I reading this right? Sounds like none of the 600K subscribers will actually have direct access to Starlink.

"...Moreover, all national security and defense requirements must be strictly observed. One of the key conditions mandates that SpaceX establish a ground gateway station within Vietnam, ensuring that all satellite-generated traffic from users within the country is routed through this gateway and integrated into Vietnam’s domestic public telecommunications network. (read: military network)

Additionally, all user data originating in Vietnam must be stored locally, aligning with the country’s stringent data sovereignty regulations. To further safeguard the digital infrastructure, the provider must also implement robust cybersecurity measures to prevent the spread of malware, cyberattacks, and harmful content.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will take the lead in overseeing the program’s implementation, working in close coordination with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security. These agencies will be responsible for monitoring compliance with Vietnamese laws and regulatory requirements..."

Am I reading this right? Sounds like none of the 600K subscribers will actually have direct access to Starlink.
"...Moreover, all national security and defense requirements must be strictly observed. One of the key conditions mandates that SpaceX establish a ground gateway station within Vietnam, ensuring that all satellite-generated traffic from users within the country is routed through this gateway and integrated into Vietnam’s domestic public telecommunications network.(read: military network)

Additionally, all user data originating in Vietnam must be stored locally, aligning with the country’s stringent data sovereignty regulations. To further safeguard the digital infrastructure, the provider must also implement robust cybersecurity measures to prevent the spread of malware, cyberattacks, and harmful content.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will take the lead in overseeing the program’s implementation, working in close coordination with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security. These agencies will be responsible for monitoring compliance with Vietnamese laws and regulatory requirements..."

- @Aidan in HCMC

So, okay...but E.M. is still a greater threat to privacy & data, right?

So, okay...but E.M. is still a greater threat to privacy & data, right? - @OceanBeach92107

I don't understand.

Huge!/ - @OceanBeach92107

From that link...

"Vietnam's government said on Wednesday it will allow SpaceX to launch its Starlink satellite internet service on a trial basis in the country."

However...

"It is not yet clear if SpaceX has (even) applied (yet) for a licence to launch its service in Vietnam."

Will be interesting to watch whether SpaceX agrees to the gov't of Vietnam's conditions to operate. Might be a bit of back-and-forth on this, I suspect.

I recall a couple of years back that the VN Navy was using Starlink for navigation/communication/drone use. Anyone know if that's still in place.

@OceanBeach92107

Mmmmm, the air and the space over a country belong to the country.. To think that someone in the middle of nowhere will put an antenna in the roof and communicate with a satellite out of my eyes.... Mmmmm i think it is not as easy as it seems. To common people this service  will be very expensive and slow. Nevertheless this will be attractive only for companies exchanging data to branches in America

@OceanBeach92107
Mmmmm, the air and the space over a country belong to the country..

To what extent/altitude? Certainly Vietnam and other countries have "unauthorized" satellites flying overhead all the time, right?

To think that someone in the middle of nowhere will put an antenna in the roof and communicate with a satellite out of my eyes.... Mmmmm i think it is not as easy as it seems.

That's exactly what happened in the United States and elsewhere between 1976 and the early 1990s.

These monstrosities (many were much larger) paved the way for The eventual mass acceptance of services such as DirecTV and other services, beginning in about 1994. Didn't you have these in your country?

To common people this service will be very expensive and slow.

Initially, where the people want it the most, I'm sure that here in Vietnam there will be the pooling of resources so to speak. then as with everything, as it becomes more popular the price will almost certainly drop.

Nevertheless this will be attractive only for companies exchanging data to branches in America - @ajairon

Really? You are totally ignoring the inexorable development happening in the rest of the world.

What about the major efforts being made in Vietnam to become directly connected with the European Union?

Also the major connections between Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia plus China and Russia?

South America is home to the one nation in the world that has the longest allowable (90 day) visa exemption for travelers: Chile

That's a reflection of the level of commerce exchanged between the two countries. certainly a tool such as this has the potential to be quite helpful in that international relationship.

But, will any of those 600K Starlink subscribers actually have an antenna for satellite transmission/reception?

Since Starlink must "......" using "...", I'm thinking that a user will be routed through a 4G/5G phone network to that "ground station".

If so, the only antenna required would be a modem-like device linking the user's computer to the nearest microwave cell tower. Either that, or tether their device to a cell phone with an installed Starlink app. This scenario would negate any benefit to potential users in remote locations who do not presently have cell phone reception.

I hope I'm wrong.

Exactly @Aidan in HCMC, Starlink suscribers in Vietnam won't be allowed to have their own antenna in the roof, at least until 2031. A centralized monstrosity  will link the satellite to end-users via cable or wifi. Eventhough the satellites are free in orbit,  someone forgets that  the spectrum to the monstrosities needs to cross through the Sovereignty of Country as the airplanes do. The owner writes the rules, policies and controls as it wants.

In anther hand, currently the transmission from Vietnam to America (the continent) is via a low bandwidth rented in Hong Kong to get LA. Hence, companies in Vietnam with a VPN to branches in e.g. Chile will love to have Starlink as a better connectivity option even the price is x3 the current providers

From what I read on Yahoo Finance, the so called antenna/dish will be used via low orbit satellites and then beam toward a ground isp station that belongs to the VN government (trial to end in 2031).  I don't see the advantage of using it due to still having to rely on VN isp, unless for people living in a middle of nowhere without any stable internet connection.

- @KKK36

interesting.

I still think that perhaps the greatest advantage is that we can continue the process of inexorably cutting the metaphorical cable so as to avoid the problems when the real (undersea) cable is cut.

The more I think about this, that has to be a major motivator for the government to move in this direction.

If the only thing this accomplishes is to move the data stream from the bottom of the ocean into the upper atmosphere and beyond, that's got to look really attractive to Vietnam